State auditor to probe Cincinnati sewer district spending

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ohio’s auditor is planning a “deep dive” study of the finances of Cincinnati’s sewer district after a newspaper’s report that it spent hundreds of millions of public dollars with little or no oversight at a time when residents’ sewer rates have risen steadily.

Auditor Dave Yost tells The Cincinnati Enquirer the lack of controls over spending appears “really alarming.” The special audit will investigate possible fraud, theft or misappropriation of funds and try to quantify the extent. It also will study consulting contracts.

The Enquirer reported Thursday that the Metropolitan Sewer District spent some $680 million over a decade, and that a former city manager’s memo had eliminated a critical checks-and-balances system.

The current Cincinnati city manager says he is changing the rules to better control spending.