The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "treasurer" ...
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Playing with Fire
“Playing with Fire” focuses on a public board well out of the public eye, but one that could cost New Orleans taxpayers millions of dollars every year. After a month of digging through thousands of pages of records at the New Orleans Firefighters Pension Fund, WVUE-TV and Lee Zurik revealed questionable salaries, spending, and management. Among the notable discoveries: a $70,000 raise and $90,000 lump sum payout for the board Secretary-Treasurer/CEO; tens of thousands of dollars in questionable credit card charges by the board; and tens of millions of dollars in questionable investments. This last element is perhaps the most egregious for the citizens of New Orleans who are left to foot the bill for any pension fund shortfalls. This multi part series launched an investigation by the city’s inspector general, forced the board to change polices and led to charges filed by the state ethics board against two of the principals in our series.
Tags: New Orleans; taxes; taxpayers; credit cards
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The Well Connected
The Gazette revealed how a developer in Charleston improperly secured $3.67 million in federal stimulus funds to build a low-income housing project with help from West Virginia's treasurer.
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Tax Buyers, Politicians Benefit From Tax Sales
The series uncovers abuse in the Madison County, Ill. tax collection system. The county treasurer turns a government program meant to help delinquent property owners into one that victimizes them while enriching the treasurer's wealthy campaign donors.
Tags: taxes; tax; campaign donor; tax sale; treasurer
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"Washam's Law"
In this investigative report, reporter Sean Robinson took a hard look at the personal and political life of Dale Washam, elected to Pierce Country Assessor-Treasurer to the "surprise" of many in 2008. Serving as Pierce Country Assessor-Treasurer for two years, Washam has been called a "gadfly" and a "busybody." This series of stories "exposed Washam as a fraud" who was only interested in his own "crusade."
Tags: Pierce County; Dale Washam; Ken Madsen; gadfly
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Are sex offenders invading MySpcae?
An look into whether sex offenders on the Treasure Coast list had personal pages on MySpace. The site is popular with teenagers and young adults, a key place to search when trying to meet minors to engage in sexual activity.
Tags: myspace.com; social networking; sexual assault; facebook
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Gone Golfing
This investigation discovered a county treasurer with a salary of $80,000 per year playing golf on 41 of 67 weekdays. After the story was publicized the county commissioners moved to cut the treasurer's salary but found that there was no legal precedent for doing so.
Tags: county government; county commission; Carver County; county treasurer; golf
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Debate as rare as 'no' votes on Cook County Board
This investigation found that Cook County Commissioners say they have little power as individuals, and have no defined, specific responsibilities. Many say most of the items that come before them are routine "housekeeping" matters. The board passed every one of the thousands of items that came before it in the last three years, and lobbying and back-room compromises often took the place of open debate and negotiation. The commissioners also defend practices of county leaders hiring friends and political associates.
Tags: Cook County; budget; County Clerk; treasurer; sheriff; state attorney; county finances; Cook County Board; county commissioners; finance committee; Cook County Sheriff's Department; Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee; Illinois Open Meetings Act; Department of Public Health
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Paschall's military record questioned
The Columbine Courier tells the interesting story of Jefferson County Treasurer and former state Representative Mark Paschall. Apparently, Paschall's own view of his stint in the military differed from the Navy's. The Navy said he was not dishonorably discharged, He said he was.
Tags: None
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Penson Fund Follies
Public retirement systems came into sharp focus and criticism after Connecticut State Treasurer Paul Silvester was found guilty of taking kickbacks in return for placing investment money with five private funds. 'Governing' analyzes the current glitches in the investments of public pension funds. Also posited, are possible quick-fixes that might need to be implemented if the retired are to feel more safe about their money.
Tags: Pension; Retirement; Paul Silvester; SEC; CalPERS; investments; scandals
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Retirement Wrinkle: Employers Win Big With a Pension Shift; Employees Often Lose
The Journal reports how employees lose pension money while companies profit from a new pension system. "The switch to cash-balance pension plans ... is the biggest development in the pension world for years, so big that some consultants call it revolutionary. Certainly, many call it lucrative; one says such a pension plan ought to be thought of as a profit center. Not since companies dipped into pension funds in the 1980s to finance leveraged buyouts have corporate treasurers been so abuzz over a pension technique."
Tags: finance; employment benefits; banking; Central & South West Corp. (CSW)