COLUMBUS (AP) — The consultant studying whether the state should lease the Ohio Turnpike would be paid $2.85 million under a proposed contract, well above the $1.5 million the state initially estimated last year in a request to the federal government.
Austin, Texas-based consulting firm KPMG corporate finance will analyze options for the 241-mile northern Ohio toll road that helps links the Midwest with the East Coast. The state Controlling Board on Monday is slated to consider the contract, which would run through December.
The board does not often reject such requests, The Columbus Dispatch reported today.
An Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman defended the cost, telling the newspaper that more detailed work can be more expensive.
“As you define the scope and realize the amount of work and level of detail that goes into an objective third-party study like this, the cost has the potential of going up in order to get it right,” spokesman Steve Faulkner said. “We want KPMG to do as thorough and as diligent a job as possible.”
KPMG has until the end of the year to study and make recommendations on how the state can get the best financial benefit from the turnpike.
Comments
Huh. How 'bout that? Kasich's Kronies get twice what he claimed they'd get, to do something the majority of the public DOES NOT WANT. Does he work for us, or not?
So the "study" will cost almost DOUBLE ? ? ?
Its kasich math again.
So we are paying DOUBLE the original cost to end up paying DOUBLE to drive the turnpike. Then kasich kronnies will make money off Ohio for many years to come.
Turnpike must stay under OHIO.
kasich is the one who needs contracted out.
Amen to that.
I was under the understanding that the state of Ohio was not too well off when it comes to spending out precious tax dollars. Mabe some of the Ohio school districts could divide up this 2.85 million instead of asking for more levies. It's about time the d,s and r,s live up to start representing WE THE PEOPLE.......and do as WE WISH AND NOT WHAT THEY WANT.......Mabe we should see who this firm is related to.......
The turnpike is one heck of a lot nicer the 680.
2.85 million wasted dollars.