Washington, D.C. – In a memo obtained from the Forest Service by Taxpayers for Common Sense, Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth disclosed to Forest Service region officials that fire suppression costs for 2002 are now projected to be between $1.3 and $1.5 billion. Bosworth also made known an accounting error that led to $215 million in firefighting funds being misplaced.

“In a record-spending fire season it is vital that the Forest Service be held accountable as to how it spends taxpayer money,” said Eric Lynch, Policy Analyst at Taxpayers for Common Sense. “The President says the Forest Service needs more freedom when it actually needs more public scrutiny.”

“How in the world does an agency lose hundreds of million of dollars so desperately needed to help extinguish fires in the West?” said Lynch. “Either the Forest Service has been using an abacus to account for its wildfire funds or they are employing a few accountants at Arthur Anderson.”

In the memo, Bosworth stated that the error was the result of a year-end account reconciliation in FY 2001 that mistakenly reduced these much-needed funds for wildfire management.

Over the last decade, the Forest Service has failed eight out of ten Inspector General audits. “This error was the result of an agency that has been wrought with fiscal mismanagement and unaccountability. It confirms that the Forest Service is one of our nation’s most mismanaged government agencies,” continued Lynch.

Although the Forest Service auditing error resulted in additional funds now being made available for fire suppression, the lack of a viable financial system continues to cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

“The tragedy here is that the misplaced millions could have been spent to reduce fire risk long before this year’s fires ravaged the west,” continued Lynch.

Even the windfall from this accounting error is going to do little to reverse the financial misfortunes of the agency.

As Chief Bosworth states, “it is apparent these additional funds will only mitigate the possibility of harsh actions that could affect the employment and morale of the workforce.” The lack of trustworthy accounting has left thousands of Forest Service employees fearing that they will soon be faced with unpaid leave, as suggested in an earlier memo from Chief Bosworth.

“Burning Western communities are in dire need of these funds. The administration’s complacency with continuous financial mismanagement of this agency contradicts recent demands upon corporate CEOs to sign statements of accountability for their company’s finances. It is time government officials be held to the same standards,” concluded Lynch.

If you would like a copy of the Forest Service memo, please call 202-546-8500 x 110 or email keith@taxpayer.net

Contact: Keith Ashdown
(202) 546-8500 x110