Utah taxpayer dollars could be at risk by the way several large public water districts in the state have been issuing long-term, noncompetitive contracts for bond underwriters in construction projects.
The state auditor’s office issued separate audits Monday critical of several water districts, foremost among them the massive Central Utah Water Conservancy District. The Orem-based agency oversees the $3 billion Central Utah Project that brings water to the Wasatch Front from the Colorado River Basin in eastern Utah.
Auditors say the district violated state procurement code by awarding a sole-source contract with an open-ended term to its underwriter handling bond issues.