Audit Reveals Mismanagement at North Amityville Fire Company
A recent state audit has found that fire companies on Long Island, particularly the North Amityville Fire Company, mismanaged taxpayer funds, spending thousands on hotels and alcohol.
Babylon town officials cautioned the fire company that their questionable spending could lead to serious consequences, labeling it as “the last strike.”
The 2024 secretary’s audit disclosed that the company spent nearly $7,000 on 12 hotel rooms related to their annual dinner in July 2023, even though the venue was only 11 miles away from their base.
The report pointed out that “setting up a venue for dinner doesn’t require an overnight stay,” deeming it an unnecessary expenditure of the company’s resources.
Despite warnings in previous audits about such spending, the company also spent approximately $500 on alcohol. The auditor noted that alcohol is not meant to support the company’s mission, emphasizing that such purchases were explicitly prohibited.
Firefighter officials claimed the purchase was attributed to a mishap with the wrong account and intended to be funded differently. However, the auditor dismissed this reasoning, insisting that public funds should not have been utilized at all.
The audit revealed a total of 87 transactions summing up to around $41,000, highlighting a lack of receipts and an extra $4,000 paid in unnecessary sales tax on various purchases.
Rich Schaffer, Babylon town supervisor, expressed deep concerns about how public funds were managed, sharing his thoughts with the Post.
These findings come on the heels of a 2023 audit that uncovered $586,000 in waste, which included extravagant spending on vacations and luxury items for the fire chief and his spouse. As a result, Babylon Town had to temporarily suspend contracts with the department.
Now, another $3.6 million contract is in the works, with officials indicating that their patience has worn thin. Schaffer characterized the recent audit as a critical breaking point for the fire company.
Babylon officials have also stated they are prepared to take legal action against the company if necessary to protect taxpayer funds. “Taxpayer dollars must be spent responsibly and transparently,” Schaffer asserted, emphasizing the value of community integrity.
The North Amityville fire company has chosen not to comment specifically on the audit findings, although they informed Newsday that they are working on a corrective action plan. The newly elected board has revised policies, appointed district managers for oversight, and has introduced updates to equipment and response protocols.
Schaffer recently met with the new board and expressed hope that they would take the right steps toward resolving these issues and rebuilding public trust. However, he warned that mere promises would not suffice this time, urging the company to address every recommendation made in the audit by the end of the month.
