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Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones took responsibility Tuesday for the accounting failures that led to the disappearance of untold thousands of dollars from the Department of Social Services.
Jones' comments came in response to criticism from county commissioners who said he should share blame for an embarrassment that has damaged public confidence in one of the county's largest agencies.
Officials have broadened an investigation of a DSS Christmas charity across the entire department. They cannot say how much money has vanished over the years. Financial audits found that the county could not account for $162,000 meant to buy gifts for poor children last year.
Tuesday, commissioners said the agency's accounting problems may stretch back as far as five years. Republican members also questioned Jones' oversight.
“You do have to ask what went wrong in leadership to allow this,” Commissioner Neil Cooksey said. “Certainly, this will come up in the manager's evaluation.”
Jones, county manager since 2000, told the Observer his role demands that he “expect and accept responsibility.”
DSS spends more than $176 million annually and employs about 1,200. The agency runs a wide range of services for orphans, food stamp recipients, the disabled and others.
Accounting problems came to light this year when Director Mary Wilson said she learned of unusual spending patterns in programs for poor families and foster children.
Since then, county officials have asked Charlotte-Mecklenburg police to help investigate. They also suspended two workers suspected of taking $110,000 from the Giving Tree program, which solicits money to buy the holiday gifts.
One of the suspended workers has been cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated, while the other is on medical leave. No charges have been filed.
Chairwoman Jennifer Roberts said Tuesday that the commissioners would hear recommendations next week on their next step.
Commissioner Bill James said the county should inspect records dating back to 2004.
“There was no management control,” he said.
James and Karen Bentley, both Republicans, said Jones is responsible for DSS operating properly. Democrats, who hold a 6-3 majority, agreed. But they said most of the blame lies with DSS managers.
They said it is unrealistic to make Jones accountable for the actions of each of the county's nearly 5,000 employees.
“Do we hold (Bank of America Chief Executive Officer) Ken Lewis accountable when a teller takes money from a till?” Dan Murrey asked.
Jones, who makes $215,655 a year, is a fixture in local government. Before commissioners hired him for their top post, he worked for nine years as assistant county manager. He also spent three years as the community development director for the city of Charlotte.
He said he used “strong and profane” language when he learned of the DSS findings.
Jones said periodic state and federal audits of individual programs within the agency did not find major problems.
“If there are commissioners who want to place the blame on me, I'll take it,” he said.
