Attorney general expects KU audit to be made public / LJWorld.com

Archive for Tuesday, June 23, 2009

June 23, 2009

Topeka — Attorney General Steve Six’s office said Tuesday that a Kansas University audit should be made public once its finished.

“We look forward to the release of the reports from the other Regent’s institutions,” the attorney general’s office said.

Last week, the Kansas Board of Regents released an “exit analysis” that raised numerous questions about financial transactions at Kansas State University.

The regents had initially wanted to keep the report secret but the Manhattan Mercury filed a complaint under the Kansas Open Records Act.

“We investigated the complaint and determined that the record should be released. We conveyed that to the Board of Regents. They then released the audit Friday,” Six’s office said.

The report was based on an audit ordered by the regents because of the retirement of Kansas State President Jon Wefald. Similar audits have been ordered at KU and Pittsburg State University, whose chief executives also are leaving office. At KU, Chancellor Robert Hemenway is stepping down.

Kip Peterson, a spokesman for the regents, said the KU audit was still being prepared. As far as its release, he said, “It’s a decision for the board to make. I have not received any indication one way or the other.”

Even though the Kansas State report detailed conflicts of interest, undocumented payments, and possible tax code violations within the Athletic Department and various non-state funded entities, Six’s office said, “The AG's office is not investigating further at this time.”