Skip to main content

Audit highly critical of Airports Authority

By WTOP Staff

Hank Silverberg, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Expensive overseas trips. No accountability. One-bid contracts. An Inspector General’s audit lists those items among its criticisms of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

The report says the 13-member Airports Authority, which has members from Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and the federal government, is not transparent in its financial dealings and lacks safeguards to make sure its own rules are followed.

The report, requested by Rep. Frank Wolf. R-Va., also says too many contracts are awarded without competition. Board members also have questionable travel expenses. One board member spent $9,200 on an airline ticket to Prague for a conference. Meal expenses for board members and their guests during a three-day trip to Hawaii totaled about $4,800.

Board members are not bound by the same ethical standards as other transportation authorities that are state entities, raising questions of accountability.

Inspector General Calvin L. Scovel III’s interim report also raises concerns about conflicts of interest.

The report says the following:

MWAA’s financial disclosure process is insufficient for identifying and evaluating potential conflicts of interest. Because many Board members are established businessmen and professionals and active members of their communities, they may have many financial interests or relationships with multiple organizations that could represent potential conflicts of interest. Yet, MWAA’s financial disclosure form only requires Board members to list the employers of their immediate family members, and to disclose their financial interests in entities that are either currently involved with or seeking a contract with the Authority.

Wolf says this is only an interim report.

“As bad as it is, there may be more,” says Wolf. “I think they were pretty much dysfunctional, knowing that they could do whatever they could and nobody would find out anything.”

The authority now controls the Dulles Toll Road and will use that toll money to finance the construction of Phase 2 of the Dulles Rail Project, which would extend Metro’s subway service to Dulles International Airport and into Loudoun County.

The report says estimates on revenue from the toll road appear reasonable.

The audit is sure to add fuel to the fiery debate on how to finance the second leg of the rail project.

Fairfax County Supervisor Pat Herrity, R-Springfield, who has been a critic of the financing plan says the recent appointees don’t have the best interest of the airports at heart.

“Some of the stuff they’re doing is worse than even the GSA scandal we recently had,” says Herrity.

Herrity supports Gov. Bob McDonnell’s efforts to get two more seats on the board for Virginia.

Another critic of both Airports Authority and the Dulles Rail project, Loudoun Supervisor Ken Reid, R-Leesburg, called the report disturbing.

“This audit should be a wake-up call to every Loudoun County resident on why this county should not extend Metro into this county. Just let it terminate at Dulles Airport,” Reid said,

Loudoun County has been reviewing plans that would include two Metro stations in the county, but the plans would require the county to help finance the project along with the Airports Authority, Fairfax County and the federal government.

The Loudoun board is split on whether to do that. A decision has to be made by July 4.

Related Stories:

Follow Hank and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote