CT Senate GOP Statement on CT Port Authority Audit

Sen. Heather Somers, Sen. Henri Martin, and Sen. Stephen Harding today issued the following statement regarding the recent state audit of the Connecticut Port Authority.

“Multiple internal control deficiencies. Lack of key documentation. Questions involving millions of taxpayers’ dollars.

And that’s just from this year’s audit findings.

How – and why – does this keep happening?

It was only a year ago when the auditors cited the Port Authority for allowing the construction management company that is overseeing the redevelopment of the State Pier in New London to recommend itself for several multimillion-dollar subcontracts for the public infrastructure project.

The years go by, but the lack of transparency at the Connecticut Port Authority endures. Year after year, we as lawmakers work in a bipartisan fashion to craft and pass legislation to reform the authority, yet it seems we will always have more reforms to make.

The authority is entrusted with millions of taxpayers’ money. It is making crucial decisions which have long-term impact on our region and entire state. And the taxpayers keep getting hit with the mounting bills.

Republicans remember when the founding Chairman of the Port Authority, Scott Bates, publicly stated the total State Pier project cost would be $93 million.

How’s that working out?

Republicans also remember when former Port Authority board chairman David Kooris infamously stated in May of 2022 that he was so sure that there would be no more requests for State Pier funding that he would bet his two children on it.

The expected cost has swollen to well-north of $300 million.

They weren’t honest with the taxpayers, and they’ve never apologized.

The saga continues. Two weeks ago, it was noted during the CT Port Authority Finance Committee’s meeting that the south end of State Pier cannot be used for wind component storage. Cue the finger pointing.

As we have said previously: It seems like every time the tide comes in, it brings with it another controversy for the Port Authority.“