The district attorney's office plans to seek $200,000 more to fund a growing investigation into shoddy construction and fraud at the city's new airport.
The state-of-the art airport was to open in October 1993 but has been plagued by delays. The new target date is Feb. 28.For four months, the prosecutors' office has investigated a wide range of allegations, including claims that contractors substituted sand or other less expensive materials for some of the cement called for in concrete formulas.
District Attorney Bill Ritter wants to hire another prosecutor, a financial analyst and other support staff to pursue the investigation, which he expects to reach into 1996.
The $200,000 Ritter is seeking in his budget for next year would come from the city's general operating fund, with the expectation that the fund would be reimbursed with airport revenue.
Briggs Gamblin, press secretary to Mayor Wellington Webb, said the mayor fully supports the request.