Wine Board Hit For Improper Spending
SPOKANE
A state agency that promotes sales of Washington wine improperly spent $3,100 in taxpayer money on food and travel during its first three years of operation, a state audit says.
The Washington Wine Commission's 12 members have begun to repay $2,300 of the expenses, but are contesting another $800 that was spent on personal meals and wine, said Denise Doty of the state auditor's office.
"The commissioners feel that these items are related to hospitality that was spent on the media and other promotional efforts," said Simon Siegl, executive director of the wine commission.
The state audit said commissioners improperly reimbursed themselves for the cost of food, wine, travel and parking tickets between July 1987 and June 1990.
The audit is the first for the commission, which lawmakers created in 1987.