Big TZ bridge project comes with improper commuting bills

by James M. Odato

The state Department of Transportation improperly paid travel reimbursement of almost $321,000 to eight DOT employees assigned to the Tappan Zee Bridge project, an audit released on Tuesday said.

The DOT workers got reimbursed for their commute to work in Tarrytown, even after an internal audit found the bills were inappropriate, according to the outside audit by Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli team.

The matter has tax consequences, the audit says.

DOT may have failed to report nearly $227,000 in travel expenses to the proper taxing authorities for from 2009 to 2011. According to IRS guidance, reimbursements for commuting are taxable as income.

http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/206434/big-tz-bridge-project-comes-with-improper-commuting-bills/