AI-assisted summary

An audit found Maricopa County and its Sheriff's Office overstated compliance costs for a racial profiling lawsuit by $163 million.

The misattributed expenses represent 72% of the total costs assigned to the case over a 10-year period.

The report suggests costs were improperly attributed to the case to bypass state-mandated spending limits.

Maricopa County and its Sheriff's Office have vastly overstated the amount of money spent on complying with court orders stemming from the long-running Melendres racial profiling lawsuit, according to an audit ordered by the federal judge overseeing the case.

Over a 10-year period, $163 million was improperly attributed to the class action case, according to the review, filed in the case on Oct. 8.

"These costs, individually or

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