By Maria Carter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-575257.mp3
Kansas City, MO – Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes blasted a draft audit released earlier this week of the city's TIF program. Note: To read the 48-page TIF audit draft, check here. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.
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The audit of the how Kansas City Missouri uses tax increment financing was due out earlier this year, but it got delayed and was not released until bloggers filed a request under the state's sunshine law. The draft audit finds revenue from TIF projects fell $233 million dollars short of projections. Barnes places the blame for the hold up on mayoral candidate and former city auditor Mark Funkhouser and the current acting auditor.
Barnes: "It was their responsibility. It was their delay that led to this interesting timing of it being released."
Barnes calls the timing politically motivated. The audit was originally scheduled for release last summer, when Funkhouser was auditor but was not completed until late January. The audit was delayed again after the finance committee wanted the report to be looked over by the Economic Development commission and the TIF commission. The auditor's office revised its numbers slightly after that.