The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) has spent more than $40,000 on a lawyer’s travel fees in the past three years, an expense that continues to draw the ire of some elected officials. An attorney representing the OCFA was compensated $40,425 for billed travel between Los Angeles and Orange County from 2017 to 2020. The rate is significantly higher than the standard IRS prevailing rate of about $0.58 per mile. “That’s completely unacceptable,” Bartlett said. “That is not openness, transparency, or accountability in government.” Despite her criticism, the OCFA approved its annual budget June 24 after it was amended for review due to previously raised concerns. The proposed 2021–22 fiscal budget was approved by every director in attendance, with the exception of Bartlett, who originally raised issues during the initial May 27 hearing. “With some of these anomalies that have not been appropriately addressed, they need to have an internal audit of the administrative operations and …