Auditor threatens to sue St. Louis transit authority

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri Auditor Susan Montee is threatening to sue the St. Louis area's transit agency if it doesn't increase its cooperation in a review of its operations.

Montee said the investigation into Metro's operations, including a $126 million cost overrun for a light-rail extension, has dragged on for two years because the agency won't share detailed records on the MetroLink's construction.

"We've been looking at this for two years, and we are no closer to finishing an audit," Montee said, adding that she'll meet with aides to Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt next week to discuss legal strategy.

Metro officials responded with a prepared statement, saying they were "both surprised and disappointed by the state auditor's public comments."

The agency has agreed to let the state conduct a financial audit of the Metro, but said it won't allow a review of its management or performance. It said such a wide-ranging audit would endanger its own legal fight with Cross County Collaborative, a group of four companies that oversaw construction of the MetroLink Shrewsbury line and that Metro believes is responsible for the cost overruns.

The agency maintains that because it operates in both Missouri and Illinois, it can't be forced by officials in one state to turn over potentially harmful information.

Montee said her lawsuit would be aimed at answering whether her office has audit authority over Metro like she does for local governments, public schools and other taxing districts.

The audit was started in 2005 by Montee's predecessor, Claire McCaskill, who is now a U.S. senator. At the time, McCaskill said she would investigation the MetroLink cost overrun and expected the audit to be completed by July 2006.