Paying the unpaid parking tickets of a former Torres-Martinez Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program caseworker was defended as a legitimate expenditure of taxpayer money by the program's former director.

The same caseworker was a recipient of other program assistance, and allegedly overcharged the taxpayer-funded program for child care expenses, according to program officials.

The Desert Sun obtained a copy of a May 24, 2004, letter from former Torres-Martinez tribal welfare program executive director Virginia Hill to Sharon Fujii, regional administrator for the federal Administration for Children and Families that oversees tribal welfare programs.

Hill's letter is in response to allegations that were apparently raised by Fujii.

The caseworker, Hill explained, “was at risk of losing her job due to missing work because of transportation problems.”

The tribe's approved welfare program plan, Hill stated, “allows for the diversion of fines up to $1,500 so recipients can retain their jobs.”

Hill told The Desert Sun, “I could see why they would think it's a conflict or whatever.”

Though the tribal program's rules may allow it, paying an individual's parking fines is not something for which taxpayers should be responsible, said David Kline, spokesman for the California Taxpayers' Association, a nonprofit, nonpartisan taxpayer advocacy organization that promotes government efficiency.

“When taxpayers pay for programs to help out the less fortunate, they expect that money to go for necessities like food, clothing, shelter,” he said.

“Parking tickets and other sorts of penalties can be avoided and are intended to punish or teach a lesson to the person who is responsible for them. If the cost can just be shifted to taxpayers, we would be concerned that there's no real effect of the penalty.”

The program caseworker, who herself received aid, never serviced her own case file, Hill stated in the 2004 letter to Fujii.

The caseworker submitted erroneous timesheets for childcare expenses to the program, leading to an overpayment of $2,000 to a child care provider. Hill stated that program officials discovered the discrepancy and recovered the overpayment.

Columba Quintero, the current executive director of the Torres-Martinez tribal welfare program, said provisions to assist aid recipients with motor vehicle fines remain in place.

“Obviously if they don't have a driver's license, they can't get to work,” Quintero said.

“That's a one-time benefit. If they get a DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol) again, then that's a different story. But initially when they come in, we will help with some fines.”