Gary municipal officials are admitting that just over $8.1 million in city funds from an account specifically intended to cover expenses for Emergency Medical Services needs were actually spent on other things.
City officials have been reviewing since spring the city’s 224 Fund – intended for the Fire Department’s use in maintaining ambulances and paramedics -- when it was discovered that the actual amount of money officials thought was in the fund did not match up with bank records. When the discrepancy was discovered, city officials admitted that to at least a $4.5 million shortfall. But in an analysis prepared by the Merrillville-based Whittaker and Associates accounting firm and made public Monday, officials said the total is $8,160,403.37.
The shortfall is due to transfers made from the 224 Fund to other accounts within the city budget between Jan. 1, 2015, and March 31 of this year.