The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has been mired in controversy following revelations from a recent internal audit that exposed missteps by former officials. As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the audit discovered that previous SANDAG leaders rushed a $28 million contract with a new vendor without ensuring the vendor met agency financial standards and withheld critical information about toll-collection system lapses from its board, potentially affecting the tracking and recording of toll road revenue.
In the aftermath of these findings, which align closely to what has been reported as ongoing issues, SANDAG has been quick to assert its dedication to transparency and accountability, with current CEO Mario Orso asserting that "We cooperated fully with the Office of the Independent Performance Auditor on these investigations and the latest findings are consistent with what we have been implementing and telling the Board about," according to a statement detailed by SANDAG. The commitment to reform is echoed by SANDAG Chairwoman Nora Vargas, who emphasized the report's significance in shaping future decisions and ensuring efficient use of public funds.
The issue stems from a previous contract with ETAN Tolling Technology, which managed the toll system on state Route 125 but failed to do so adequately, leading to their dismissal earlier this year. This hiring was followed by the engagement of Deloitte for a tolling contract that raised concerns due to an incomplete procurement process that neglected the finance department's financial reporting needs and failed to include system requirements, as highlighted by both the audit and an interview with SANDAG auditor Courtney Ruby in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
A scheduled meeting of the SANDAG board of directors on Friday will take place amid this unfolding situation. Meanwhile, former SANDAG executives implicated in the audits have since left the organization, leaving the public to ponder the accountability measures that may ensue.
