State workers get free lunch on Diners Club

Tuesday, May 9, 2000 | 10:18 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State Treasurer Brian Krolicki released figures Monday that show employees of three social service agencies are the biggest deadbeats in not paying their Diners Club charge card debts.

Diners Club, which has a contract with the state to supply credit cards for traveling state employees, has written off $71,038 unable to be collected from state workers who have failed to pay over a two-year period.

Krolicki said workers at the state Division of Rehabilitation failed to pay $16,427; the state Division of Child and Family Services didn't pay $14,381; and the Welfare Division didn't reimburse Diners Club $13,511.

Because of the write-offs, the state will not collect a bonus of about $8,000. The state Board of Examiners will decide on Wednesday whether to renew the contract with Diners Club, which now wants to charge the state $10 a card, or $30,000 for the service.

Krolicki said some of those who didn't reimburse Diners Club have left state employment or died.

Even though the state lost $8,000 in bonus money, Krolicki said Nevada was ahead in using the cards. The state was able to eliminate an employee who took care of the state's travel fund at a savings of $50,000 to $60,000 a year.

The state now has invested its former fund of $180,000 that was used for employee travel.

The state has declined to release the names of the deadbeat employees, saying it is a contract between them and Diners Club. The state is not liable for any of the $71,038.

Other agencies in which employees rang up big bills on Diners Club and didn't pay include the Nevada Division of Industrial Relations at $4,185; the state Public Utilities Commission, $5,055; State Forestry, $3,992; and the Department of Transportation, $3,009.