Weatherization program buys $1.50 bulbs for $27
Millions wasted in New Jersey alone. State senator Buono (D) wants hearings on overcharges like a $27 light bulb.
By: Cheryl K. Chumley at The Heartland Institute
EXCERPTS:
“This program has been fraught with problems for a long time,” Buono told NewJersey.com. “Now that there’s an infusion of funds, it’s important that we take a second look at it.
One question Buono says she wants answered in her hearings is why the state has spent more than $1 million of the federal dollars to train 225 people to work in the home weatherization field but only seven have actually found jobs. Another question: Why is the state paying $27 for light bulbs that cost $1.50?
A recent state audit uncovered this charge, along with others deemed similarly unreasonable.
Of $613,600 charges from contractors who were paid with weatherization funds, only $54,000— just under 9 percent—were rated as reasonable by the state auditor. In addition to $27 light bulbs, the auditor found charges of $75 for carbon-monoxide detectors that actually cost $22, and $1,499 for two GPS systems that should have cost a total of $400.
FULL ARTICLE
Help Make A Difference By Sharing These Articles On Facebook, Twitter And Elsewhere: