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State audit request for SANDAG road projects fails on tie vote
Summary
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee voted on an Assemblymember DeMaio request to audit the San Diego Association of Governments’ use of transportation funds; the measure failed on a 5‑5 tie after debate over whether state review would duplicate existing oversight.
Assemblymember Kevin DeMaio asked the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on Tuesday to authorize a state audit of the San Diego Association of Governments to determine whether voter‑approved and state transportation funds were spent for allowable purposes.
DeMaio said earlier reviews and media reports raise questions about SANDAG’s financial oversight, citing an independent audit and whistleblower disclosures related to a toll program and an estimated $2,000,000 loss to taxpayers. “Where are our gas tax monies going? … The audit does not presume wrongdoing,” DeMaio said, urging the committee to restore public trust.
State Auditor Parks summarized the proposed audit’s objectives: verify whether Transnet‑funded commitments were fulfilled, test the allowability of state and federal funds for non‑road projects, and examine selected non‑road projects such as the BUILD NCC corridor to determine if funds were used appropriately. Parks said the audit would look at project cancellations, overhead charged to dedicated funds and other controls.
Mario Orso, SANDAG chief executive officer, told the committee SANDAG manages many funding sources with distinct eligibility and oversight and that the agency has been subject to dozens of audits and federal reviews. “We really take that responsibility in managing tax‑funded dollars … very, very seriously,” Orso said, noting SANDAG’s internal controls and recent management changes.
Members split over whether a new state audit would duplicate existing work. Several senators said internal audits, state controller reviews and prior investigations address many of the questions; others said whistleblower and federal inquiries justify an independent state review to restore public confidence.
The committee called the roll on audit request 2026‑115 (San Diego Association of Governments Road Project Management). The roll produced five ayes (including Assemblymember DeMaio and Senator Jones) and five no votes (including Senator Fong and Senator Becker); two members were recorded as not voting. The motion failed.
With the vote, the committee did not authorize the state auditor to proceed on DeMaio’s SANDAG audit request.
