In recent years, after staffing cutbacks, Idaho’s food stamp program was criticized by federal authorities for unacceptably high error rates. Then the state invested in more staffing, and error rates dropped. Now, the USDA is congratulating Idaho with a bonus for reducing its error rates. “I personally want to commend you for your achievement and encourage you to continue your efforts to improve program integrity,” Undersecretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Nancy Montanez Johner wrote to Gov. Butch Otter on June 29th. “Proper administration of this important nutrition assistance program results in public confidence as we work together to provide services to needy Americans.” That letter said Idaho’s program had won a bonus of $541,679. But then, Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Roberto Salazar followed up with a July 3 letter to Otter saying, “We regret to report that there was a mistake in the formula we used to calculate the award amounts. As a result, the amount of your bonus in the June 29, 2007 announcement letter was incorrect.” The correct amount: $484,888. “We apologize for any inconvenience this revision may cause you” -- Betsy Russell/Eye On Boise
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.
unacceptably high error rates. Then the state invested in more staffing, and error rates dropped. Now, the USDA is congratulating Idaho with a bonus for reducing its error rates. “I personally want to commend you for your achievement and encourage you to continue your efforts to improve program integrity,” Undersecretary of Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Nancy Montanez Johner wrote to Gov. Butch Otter on June 29th. “Proper administration of this important nutrition assistance program results in public confidence as we work together to provide services to needy Americans.” That letter said Idaho’s program had won a bonus of $541,679. But then, Food and Nutrition Service Administrator Roberto Salazar followed up with a July 3 letter to Otter saying, “We regret to report that there was a mistake in the formula we used to calculate the award amounts. As a result, the amount of your bonus in the June 29, 2007 announcement letter was incorrect.” The correct amount: $484,888. “We apologize for any inconvenience this revision may cause you” -- Betsy Russell/Eye On Boise
