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Audit
Finds Some Registry Officials Gave Themselves Pay Hikes
RMV Personnel Received Over $78,000 in Salary Increases that did not Follow Guidelines September 28, 1999--Many car owners have paid too much sales tax due to confusing state laws, and some Registry of Motor Vehicle employees have essentially promoted themselves to higher positions, according to an interim state auditor's report detailing deficiencies at the registry. The report comes as the auditor's office continues to investigate the RMV. According to a statement released with the report yesterday, Auditor Joe DeNucci said the interim report is valuable as new Registrar Daniel Grabauskas takes over the agency. "The Registry of Motor of Vehicles needs a complete overhaul," DeNucci said. "My office looks forward to assisting Registrar Grabauskas as he takes on this enormous challenge." The report found a number of major deficiencies in the RMV. Because of complicated state laws, some car dealers do not subtract manufacturer rebates from the final cost of a car. For example, if a car comes with a $1,000 rebate that is not subtracted from the final cost, a buyer is still paying 5 percent sales tax on that $1,000. According to the report, the Department of Revenue is investigating the problem. RMV personnel received over $78,000 in salary increases that did not follow guidelines. In two cases, employees had the authority to process their own raises. One manager has received $13,370 in unauthorized payments since 1995, the auditor found. Also, a consultant was hired as a manager at a rate far above the allowable level. According to the report, that manager was hired at a salary of $1,049 a week, $317 above the $732-per-week ceiling. Customer service at some registry outlets is lacking. The Auditor's
Office visited five branch offices, and found waits as long as three hours
and 20 minutes; typically people must wait 45 minutes to an hour. The investigation
found that in some offices, staffing is short because positions haven't
been filled. The Watertown office, for example, is authorized for 19 staff
members, but only employs 13. The report said branch managers put in requests
to fill vacancies, but they often do not receive permission to do so from
Registry headquarters.
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