Long Beach Overpaid More Than $500K In Payouts: Audit

Newsday reportedThe City of Long Beach made more than a half-million dollars in separation payments to employees that it shouldn't have, according to a draft of the audit the New York State Comptroller's Office performed on the city.

The audit, according to the Long Beach Herald, the city approved $6 million in separation payments to employees in 2017 and 2018. Of that, $513,925 paid to 10 employees "appear inconsistent" with the city code, the Herald reported. Among those 10 employees is former City Manager Jack Schnirman, who is now the Nassau County comptroller.

Newsday reported that $52,780 of the money paid to Schnirman — nearly half of his $108,000 payout — was inappropriate. Schnirman resigned from his position as city manager in December 2017 to start serving as Nassau comptroller.

The draft of the audit has not been officially released yet. It was submitted to the city, and it has 30 days to respond to the audit's findings and recommendations.

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas's office is also performing a criminal investigation into the city's payouts. That investigation has not yet concluded.