Washington tax dollars spent on open bar tabs, other unregulated expenses

SPOKANE, Wash. – Washington’s Office of the Auditor has found improper spending of taxpayer dollars meant for establishing internet services in underprivileged communities. Auditors say cite purchases of first-class plane tickets, open bar tabs and over $160,000 in duplicate expenses as proof of unregulated use of the funds. Auditors told NonStop Local this money was not dispensed following proper procedure, and it all traces back to mismanagement within the state’s Department of Commerce. This purse of over 10 million dollars in taxpayer funds was meant for something called the Digital Navigator Program, a state service set up to make sure that under-served communities can access the internet. While auditors were able to point to improper spending with these funds, the auditor’s office sa