OCC President's Expense Reports Add Up to $12,247

Ocean County College President Dr. Jon Larson was reimbursed $12,247 for travel, supplies, publications, off-campus meetings and community outreach over a 31-month period, according to a summary provided to Patch.com by the college.

Trustees are reviewing Larson’s expenses and that of six OCC vice presidents, in the wake of spending revelations involving Brookdale Community College President Dr. Peter Burnham that are being probed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor. Burnham resigned shortly after his spending became public.

On March 19, OCC trustees asked for three years of spending records for their key administrators and quarterly updates in the future. From May of 2008 until December of 2010, the summary revealed Larson spending an average of $395 a month and being reimbursed for those expenses.

The high payment, $1,654 was for expenses in October and November of 2008, $1,514 of it for travel. That payment also is linked to a February 2009 expense list, according to a note on the summary, but the details of the connection were unclear.

The details behind the payment will be made public when the trustees have completed their reviews, according to Vice President of College Advancement Tara Kelly. Larson’s lowest reimbursement, for $70, covered May and June expenses, according to the summary.In fiscal 2008-09, he was reimbursed $5,693. The reimbursement dropped to $3,905 for fiscal 2009-10, and amounted to $2,748 through Dec. 2010.

Before reimbursements are made, Vice President of Finance Sara Winchester said she reviews Larson’s expenses following checks by Larson’s assistant and the staff in her office.