The panel looking into the state health department began Monday its probe of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism.
Part of the House committee’s investigation covers illegal settlement payments to employees from the tourism department’s clearing account. Tourism Director Dick Dutton said the chief financial officer should have drawn the payments from a payroll account.
"This was, to me, a severe error in judgment to do this, and, unfortunately, when the error was discovered, she had decided to leave the agency and was using up her time and was not available for us to discuss this with her during the internal audit that discovered this. We have no real reason why she drafted it off that account," Dutton said.
The payments were for pay and housing stipends three employees were owed but had not received.
The Oklahoma Public Employees Association pressed for the investigation last month, calling the departure of an auditor after his findings were released a "red flag." Dutton said the auditor left over a separate, individual matter he left to human resources.
"The internal auditor cannot be dismissed or separated without review and approval by the tourism commission," Dutton said. "That was done. That was granted to me, and as we moved forward, he was given a choice and he chose to resign and there wasn’t a dismissal."
OPEA has also alleged violations of public record laws by and employee mistreatment within the tourism department. Asked whether there’s a culture of secrecy at the agency, Dutton said employees are worried about their jobs.
"This comes from the issue, I think, which the whole state has struggled with, is as we’ve had budget reductions in areas like this, I am constantly asked, ‘Will the next budget reduction cause the closure of my particular facility?’" Dutton said.
Dutton said agency leaders are constantly working to improve communication with employees.
