ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - An audit from Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli has identified more than $12 million in overruns at new I Love NY highway rest areas.
The audit, first reported by USA TODAY Network’s Albany bureau, found the state Department of Transportation failed to properly plan for the facilities’ construction. In one instance, a sewer system was initially left off plans for a Long Island rest stop, leading to $7 million in overruns.
DOT officials dispute the findings, in part because one of the auditors was charged with placing a GPS tracker on a DOT employee’s car while the review was under way. Stalking charges are pending against the man, who was removed from the audit before leaving the comptroller’s office.
DiNapoli’s office says DOT officials are using the case to discredit the audit.
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