Richland County releases contract outlining three firms’ responsibilities in penny tax spending

Reliance on a three-company team to oversee Richland County’s penny sales tax for transportation is the “most economical and efficient use” of revenue to make road projects happen, records made public Thursday say.

That characterization is included in the contract county officials signed with engineering firms ICA, Brownstone Construction Group and M.B. Kan Construction Company. County officials released a copy of the 166-page contract Thursday, after declining to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The firms’ primary role is described as evaluating proposals along with scheduling and reviewing work of road builders, the year-old arrangement approved by County Council says.

Those details come after state revenue officials alleged potential corruption and fraud related to the team’s hiring, which has been reported as a five year, $50 million job.

A letter to county officials, released Monday, outlined those concerns, but didn’t provide more details. Revenue officials turned the matter over to the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate.

The tax adopted by voters in a referendum in 2012 is expected to raise more than $1 billion for roads, paths and bus service during its 22-year-life.

State revenue officials also cited the hiring of two public information teams separate from the county’s public relations staff as an example of potential misuse of tax revenue.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 1:06 PM.