The state board charged with vetting new building proposals for Utah’s colleges regularly moves them forward for approval without question — resulting in some facilities that are too small and others that come in millions of dollars over budget, according to a critical audit released Tuesday.
That superficial review comes at the point in the construction process that could most use the scrutiny, the new report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor General said. Instead, it’s become largely unregulated, potentially breaking the law and wasting taxpayer money.
The State Building Board, which makes recommendations to state lawmakers about which projects should be prioritized across the state, often bases its decisions for college buildings on little information, auditors found.