From the Terre Haute Tribune-Star:
The Indiana State Board of Accounts unexpectedly announced Tuesday night it has initiated what it called an “examination” of the Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission.
The announcement followed a private meeting Tuesday among State Examiner Paul Joyce, who is a member of the three-person State Board of Accounts, and several top city officials.
According to an SBA news release emailed to the Tribune-Star shortly after 7 p.m., the purpose of the meeting was to “initiate an examination of the Redevelopment Commission.”
It further stated: “The matters discussed during the conference [Tuesday’s meeting] related to record keeping and disbursements of the Redevelopment Commission, including but not limited to, bond covenants, loans, cash balances, operational expenses, bank accounts and fiscal officer responsibilities as a result of a new law passed in 2014, [Senate Enrolled Act] 118.”
Mayor Duke Bennett, reached late Tuesday, said his administration has been working with the SBA “from the very beginning. We look forward to them reviewing any and all matters related to this.”
Also reached late Tuesday, Cliff Lambert, executive director of the Terre Haute Redevelopment Department, said “the Redevelopment Commission and department staff are pleased that State Examiner Paul Joyce has initiated a special audit of the Redevelopment Commission regular and [tax increment finance] TIF monies.”
In May, Lambert publicly questioned the Bennett administration’s transferring of millions of dollars from TIF bank accounts. He filed a formal complaint about the transfers in early June with the SBA, which audits all local governments in Indiana.
...
http://www.tribstar.com/local/x1760112746/State-to-look-into-city-commission
