A state representative is asking the state legislature’s executive board to authorize an independent forensic audit of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
Representative Kathy Tyler had previously called for a special session of the state legislature to discuss a closer look at the EB-5 program. Tyler says that attempt did not garner enough signatures, but she says she learned there is a lot of support for the effort. Tyler says the state lost millions of dollars of taxpayer funds and the state’s investigation has left more questions than answers.
“And the audits that they have contracted do not follow the money at all,” Tyler says. “Basically they’re just form and procedure audits to make sure there’s no more double billing for airline tickets and that type of thing. None of the audits that the Governor’s office is contracting cover the EB-5 program at all. They’re all internal, they do not extend out to SDRC Inc, and they don’t follow the money.”
Tyler presents her request in front of the board on Monday.
Tony Venhuizen with the Governor’s office says the state is already undertaking a thorough independent audit. He says the investigation should finish early in the legislative session. He says Governor Daugaard plans to make those results public and discuss them with the legislature.