Sheboygan Spirit Forum

November 13--was that about the time she threatened to quit her job?  Otherwise I wonder what that was for.

First, why would you give cash to a city employee and second, notice her name is misspelled?  The assumption is they re-imbursed her for some expenses she paid for out of her own pocket for city business, but something smells fishy here.  Awful lot of money and why cash?

You know what they say JA about assuming.  Yes, it could be to reimburse her for something, or is it a little cash advance or a bonus to keep her happy, or keep her working with the city, or shut her mouth?

Well, she DID want to quit, and when she changed her mind, we were told that the UBO had a talk with her and made some concesions about her time for her family (was it a sick father?) or something.

Maybe they sweetened the pot a little bit, as the saying goes?  Of course it's just a thought and I have no real idea what the money was for.

Well well well..

The timing DOES fit.  Check out the thread "Another Ship Sinks":

WHAT??  The day after she submitted her resignation she got $2500.00.  Well, if that doesn't beat everything.  What are people SUPPOSED to think about that.

Oh, Is Kim Verhelst related to Marge Verhelst who sued the City? :SHaM:

I just asked someone that, too and they said no, the two aren't related. 

Absolutely amazing.  Only two weeks after she changes her mind and decides to stay with the city, she gets a $2,500 check.  Not only was the city pleased to announce that she was staying, but I bet she was delighted to stay after getting a little extra spending money IMHO.  The timing is too suspicious.   :mad0090:

I hope she includes this on her income tax. Isn't it illegal for government employees to accept gifts like this? This almost sounds like a bribe. It appears she was given $2,500 as a bribe in exchange for her not to resign.

Sure doesn't sound kosher, no sheboygan.  But do they care about legal? Shoot no.  I mean isn't it true that a politician isn't supposed to get any personal gain out of running for an office? WEll, what about UBO's personal gain with LaRaza, those filthy smarmy bastards that want to take over the country?

Yes, it sure does and she needs to be held accountable, but of course, they'd just make up some bull pucky story. Who gives a check out for cash like that? That's nuts.

Wasn't this start up money for an event sponsored by the tourism department? I'd like to see the deposits that were made a few days after the check was written. I'm guessing there was a "return of start up" money. I have to do this all the time at my job.

That is part of the problem.  She get's a cash advance, but doesn't hand in an accounting of it.  Almost everyone else on expense accounts has to do that for a cash advance. 

Gee, if it is start up money, must be nice to get such a cash advance.  From my understanding it usually doesn't work that way in city politics.  You spend it then ask for reimbursement or the bill gets submitted and it is taken out of an account.

OK, let's just say it was a "bribe." If that were true, do you really believe they would just write out a check to Kim Swisher from an account that anyone can get the records of?

Also, for start up money, the person in charge of an event would not be required to use her own money and then get a reimbursement! Who would want a job like that? At an event that takes in money, they need money for change, etc.

I don't know for a fact that it was used for start up money, I just know that an event occurred at about the same time and THAT would make sense to me. I'm speculating as much as everyone else here....

Well, sure it would make sense.  But where is her list of expenditures to prove she spent every bit of it for this "event".  Don't you think the taxpayers are entitled to see an accounting of where their money goes?  It's getting me mad, now, that nobody SEES this.

Giving a person a hunk of money like $2500.00, and not having proof of how it's spent, is in my humble opinion--AN ABUSE OF POWER.  When they gave her this money they probably never thought someone would make an open records request and find this out.

And furthermore why is there never any money for the PD?

Remember...I'm just speculating like the rest of you. However, I'm quite confident that there is a reasonable explanation for the $2500. For anyone that is concerned, I'm sure a call to the tourism office would settle any and all speculations.

Normal business practice is to account for a cash advance AFTER it has been spent.  Example:  Employer provides an employee with a $500 cash advance for travel expenses.  After the trip has been taken, the employee turns in receipts for cash expenses during the trip plus any cash not used.  Employee would be responsible for any cash missing for which there are no receipts.  The main control up front is making the cash advance reasonable.  You wouldn't give an employee a $10,000 cash advance for a two day trip to Chicago.  Business practice is to account for the cash expenses and left over cash after the event or travel takes place.  Employee is responsible for any short fall.

BINGO!! Well said. And I don't think asking the Tourism Dept. at this point is going to get us any accurate answers.

Who says there is any shortfalls? If the money was used and then returned, what is the problem with that? It's more than likely normal business practice.

I'm still not sure what people REALLY believe this $2500 check was used for. Do people seriously think it was used as a "gift" to Kim Swisher hoping to sway her decision to stay with the city? I just don't buy that line of thinking. I'd be very surprised if it wasn't normal business practices going on here.

Just getting a listing of all checks made out from the city doesn't mean a darn thing if you don't understand the business practices. To assume that something shady went on is really disrespectful to Ms. Swisher or anyone else that would be accused of doing something wrong with no proof.

JMHO

Certainly there would be an accurate answer.  She drew $2500 as a cash advance.  There would be receipts for the cash spent, plus what ever cash was returned to the City.  Those receipts and the returned cash should add up to $2500.  The point is that when someone receives a cash advance, for what ever, they do have to produce an accounting of how that cash is used.  You don't just get a cash advance with out doing a follow up report as to how it was used and how much was returned.  In addition the report would have to be in writing (no verbal only explanations of how the funds were used) and would have to balance to the amount originally drawn.   I would believe that accounting would have to go back the Finance Department not the Tourism Department.  A person receiving a cash advance must be very careful in handling the advanced funds because they will be personally responsible for any short fall.

Exactly Arclight! It isn't all that unusual...a records request just doesn't show the continuing paper trail.

But wouldn't a cash advance check be made out to the Department of Tourism, not Kim Swisher?

If the cash advance came out of the Tourism Department budget, the check would not necessarily be made out to the Tourism Department.  If the check were made out to the Tourism Department, what would have to happen?  Someone from the Tourism Department would have to cash it and then that person would be responsible for the turning in the after event report, including receipts and left over cash.  End result is one person is going to have to be responsible for the cash advance, so the check could be made out to that person, as long as the event and the the cash advance received the necessary approvals.

Departments cannot issue checks.  Only the Finance Department can and that is only after the necessary approvals. If the Finance Department issues a cash advance check to the Tourism Department, who exactly is responsible for the cash advance?  If the cash advance check is written out to a specific person, there is no question as to who is responsible and who will have to do the after event accounting. Here's the message: " YOU are personally being given City funds to be used for certain authorized expenditures. YOU will be held accountable for a complete report on the use of those funds and any cash left over."

This really isn't that hard to understand...

Sheboygan=20 Resident,

I believe, as you, that there is a reasonable explanation for the money.  I do not know Kim Swisher all that well, but she does not strike me as someone who would do unethical dealings, especially with money.  That being said, I still do think if anyone has a concern and they ask for an accounting of the money, it should come from Finance.  As far as I know, ALL City Departments do account for all revenue and expenditures, through the City Finance Dept.  Even though the City Tourism Dept. is funded by Room Tax (and sometimes State Gem Grant money) rather than property tax money, I still believe the accounting would come from our City Finance Dept.

Susan

Is there anybody left in the Finance Dept? The director left how many months ago and hasn't been replaced and now the Asst. Finance Director is leaving.

Good question, sheboygan...


Okay, supposing it is "normal business practice", then why, out of ALL those checks, is she the only one to get a whopper check cut for CASH?

It doesn't appear to be "normal business practice" by looking at all the other checks. Not a one other is made out for CASH.

OH yah, they'd tell us the truth. Get real!


And there you go. Cats away and the mice are playing with our tax money.  God only knows what's all going on with no one there qualified and honest to watch what's going on.

They don't let us see resume's either.  They are confidential.

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