Overview
- A state inspector general investigation found about $585,000 to $600,000 in consultant travel reimbursements that violated contracts or state travel rules after reviewing $1.15 million of more than $2 million in charges.
- The report says roughly $685,000 of reviewed travel was approved without documented, required pre-approval, showing that contract managers often lacked control over consultant trips.
- Flagged expenses include first-class and premium flights, a private plane reimbursement, more than $118,000 in international travel barred by contract, luxury ride-hailing, and trips to gyms, a nightclub, an escape room, a tiki bar and a cigar lounge.
- The authority agreed to adopt some inspector general recommendations by March 2027 and to strengthen controls and documentation, and the inspector general will reevaluate progress after that date while lawmakers press oversight reform.
- The findings deepen scrutiny of the larger project, which has grown from a $33 billion 2008 estimate to at least $126 billion, and follow an earlier IG warning that the authority could exhaust cash by December 2027.