MORGANTOWN — The legislative auditor’s office will conduct an analysis of funding allocations by the Division of Highways (DOH), following a written request from and a conversation with Sen. Bob Beach, D-Monongalia, the morning of June 4.
The Dominion Post spoke with Beach and received an email from Legislative Auditor Aaron Allred Monday morning. Beach spoke Monday with a member of Allred’s staff.
The exact nature and scope of the analysis has yet to be worked out, both said. They plan to meet sometime during June interims — set for June 24-26 — to discuss it further.
As previously reported, Beach sent a letter to Allred’s office last week asking the office to conduct an audit of Division of Highways District 4, which includes Monongalia, Preston and Marion counties within its purview.
Beach told Allred in the letter that he’d heard “concerns from a number of constituents regarding how maintenance funding is allocated and prioritized across District 4.”
Beach, who previously served as Senate Transportation Committee chair, asks Allred’s office to either work alone, or with the DOH and/or the state auditor (different from the legislative auditor) to conduct the audit.
Beach clarified to The Dominion Post that his request was not related to road bond projects but to the allocation of maintenance dollars. He repeated that Monday, saying this is not a reflection on the job being done but a concern that the district isn’t getting enough money.
Allred said in his email that it appeared form Beach’s letter that he was seeking an analysis of the funding allocations rather than a full audit, which is more time consuming.
Beach said his conversation with Allred’s staffer further clarified that an analysis is what’s in order. But whether that might be confined to District 4 or expanded to the whole DOH is to be determined.
Beach received a copy of the DOH funding formula that dates back to 2000, he said, and he doesn’t know if it’s been updated.
He’d also like to learn, he said, if any weight is given to growth counties in the formula. This would play a role not just in Mon, but in Marion and Harrison, too.
Asked about a timeline for this process, Allred said he doesn’t have enough information yet to make an estimate.
