TAMPA - Members of Hillsborough's transit agency board of directors on Thursday acknowledged that some of the allegations in a critical county review of their books have merit.
The report pointed out areas where they can improve, they said. They are making changes.
"We need to re-establish our credibility," said Steven Polzin, a member of the board for Hillsborough Area Regional Transit.
But the board's executive director, Sharon Dent, the subject of intense criticism this week from some county commissioners, told the board the most stinging barbs in the report are overstated. The most egregious allegations were caught through internal safeguards, she said. No agency money was misappropriated.
The comments were made during a meeting of the HARTline board's audit subcommittee. The report, made public Monday, was prepared by Hillsborough Internal Performance Auditor Kathleen Mathews, at commissioners' request.
Her analysis came after a former employee leveled allegations about financial mismanagement against the agency. John Dausman says in a lawsuit that his revelations led to his dismissal. Dent has said he was fired for improperly touching a co-worker.
Allegations include:
- Streetcar projects were divided to avoid thresholds that would require bidding. Staff said the auditor may not have fully understood the records she reviewed.
- The agency used money meant for buses on streetcar expenses after ensuring commissioners they didn't do that. Board members acknowledged using bus money but said they are permitted.
