ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Supervisor of Elections Glen Gilzean has spent another $200,000 since claiming he was out of money and unable to make payroll, county auditors cited from court filings Tuesday night.
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The revelation put the total amount of overspending by Gilzean’s office north of $1 million when the next payroll cycle is accounted for.
Comptroller Phil Diamond told commissioners Gilzean would be unable to pay his employees to end the month and the election office’s account was at risk of an overdraft – a place he called uncharted territory.
Read: Comptroller accuses elections supervisor of breaking state law, risking bank overdrafts
“Unfortunately, what we have seen is very disrespectful to the taxpayers,” he said.
Gilzean’s office has been under investigation for more than a month amid revelations he spent funds on scholarships and grants instead of paying bills.
The spending included $1 million for voter outreach grants that commissioners voted Tuesday night to order him to claw back so he could ensure his bank balance stayed in the black.
Commissioners also voted to send $250,000 to the office’s payroll company to ensure the employees got their next paychecks, which also ensured the money was kept out of Gilzean’s hands.
However, Mayor Jerry Demings said he would be fine releasing the money to Gilzean if that’s what it took to get payroll over the line.
“The supervisor of elections needs to manage his office. He needs to manage his funds,” Demings said.
Despite claiming Gilzean broke Florida law four different ways, attorneys said there’s no consequence, because Florida law doesn’t provide a penalty for overspending.
Read: Elections staff terminated in wake of spending scandal
Commissioners noted in any other case, voters would’ve likely thrown Gilzean out of office. However, the spending limits he ran afoul of were in place because he was already an outgoing supervisor.
There are fresh concerns that the county will have to shovel money to Karen Castor Dentel after she takes over the office in the new year. Based on the numbers, Castor Dentel has been left with barely enough money – if enough money – to cover payroll in the new year
“We’re putting ourselves at risk of not being able to pay our bills,” Demings said, hesitantly.
A court hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday morning for the lawsuit Gilzean filed against the county, where Gilzean is asking a judge to move his timeline up due to the lack of funds in the office’s bank account.
County attorneys believe the actions taken Tuesday night will make the request moot.
Read: Gilzean sues Orange County after vote to withhold funds
Gilzean’s office sent WFTV the following statement:
“I will always fight for my staff and appreciate the county ensuring payroll is made over the holidays. Unfortunately, our office was put in this position due to lies told by the Mayor and an astonishing misunderstanding of elections by the Comptroller. We will continue to make our case in court and shine a light on the laws the Mayor and Comptroller broke in an effort by the two of them to score cheap political points using taxpayer dollars.”
— Glen Gilzean, Orange County Supervisor of Elections
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