Local Purchases and Payments: Fuel and Oil – Tallahassee, FL, TLH Lake Jackson Station
Background
The TLH Lake Jackson Station is in the Gulf Atlantic District of the Southern Area. OIG data analysis identified this unit had a 159 percent increase in account identifier code 594 Vehicle Fuel and Oil Expense Paid Locally between fiscal year (FY) 2019, Quarter (Q) 4, and FY 2020, Q1, from $1,470 to $3,811, respectively. In addition, $5,281 represented 39 percent of overall expenses paid in the Gulf Atlantic District for the same timeframe. Furthermore, there were no payments made in FY 2018, Q4, or FY 2019, Q1 (same period last year).
It is unusual for one post office to have such a high percentage of local purchases for vehicle fuel and oil using cash in one fiscal year. The Postal Service vehicle (Voyager) card is the primary means to pay for all commercial fuel and oil. However, the district allowed cash purchases to be made at this unit for a temporary basis due to problems with their Voyager cards.
Our objective was to determine whether local payments for fuel and oil issued at the TLH Lake Jackson Station were valid, processed timely, and properly supported.