Job's Not Finished Until The Paperwork Is Done

Did the left hand know what the right hand was doing? That's the question on the minds of many at the Oregon Department of Aviation right now... as state auditors have found evidence the agency isn't keeping track of contracts worth $1.2 million with outside companies handling construction at state airports.

Those deals were reached in the 2004-2005 fiscal year, at a time when the agency underwent a change in leadership.

"Not only is the prior director gone, but the folks that managed those projects are no longer there," said Mike Burrill Sr., chairman of the board that oversees the agency, to the Salem Statesman-Journal.

Under Oregon law, state agencies are required to hold onto all contracts and related documentation for six to 10 years... but during a recent audit, state investigators couldn't find copies of those contracts -- leading the state to wonder if the department paid a fair price for the goods and services it received.

Despite the trouble, the state auditor says he is confident the work was performed... and the contracts were prepared, but somehow disappeared later, or just can't be found by newer staff members.

"I would bet my life on the fact that there were and are contracts out there," Burrill said. "There's no doubt in my mind that we had them."

Auditors also praised the department for improvements since previous audits... as 10 of 11 previously identified issues have been resolved.

FMI: www.aviation.state.or.us