Watchdog group charges UT Dell Medical School with misspending tax dollars

A report from a watchdog group claims Austin-based University of Texas Dell Medical School misspent $105 million in property taxes collected by Travis County's healthcare district, Austin, Texas-based Central Health, according to the Austin-American Statesman.

Written by lawyer Fred Lewis, the report details that although the funds were supposed to be put toward healthcare for underprivileged populations, they have been mixed with funds for medical school projects and non-healthcare governmental projects.

"Because UT Dell and [Central Health] appear to have breached these basic fiduciary and legal duties, Travis County, as the financial overseer of CH, has the responsibility to retain an independent, third-party auditor" to facilitate a "comprehensive performance and forensic audit," the report states.

UT Dell Medical School and Central Health denied the claims. "We do not commingle Central Health funds with any others," said Clay Johnston, MD, PhD, dean of the medical school. "We're in full compliance with the affiliation agreement with Central Health."

Central Health President and CEO Patricia Young Brown agreed. She added that UT Dell Medical School "is increasing the number of medical residents working in our community health clinics and is creating the next generation of doctors to care for our safety net population."