Looks like the Washington State Wine Commission is drinking its way to trouble. A report released this week by State Auditor Brian Sonntag’s office found questionable spending on meals, drinks, and other expenses at the state agency, including splurging $4,922 on a commissioner’s going away party.

The wine commission represents licensed wineries and wine grape growers in our state and is funded almost entirely by the wine industry, through assessments based on wine and grape sales. The commission’s revenue for June 2008-July 2009 was $3.9 million.

The party for the unnamed commissioner was just one of several payments that “did not appear to be for valid business purposes,” the report said. Other questionable expenses include $1,080 for wine during a dinner with 12 employees, 13 commissioners and four non employees at the annual board retreat. The commission also spent $778 on ordering dinner during a board retreat which lacked itemized receipts, and $696 on wine during staff meals which were unrelated to promotional hosting.

The audit was not able to determine whether the commission had permission to spend an additional $4,465 for meals during meetings and travel. The commission says that is has already taken steps to ensure review and approval of all expenditures and has established a Finance Committee to improve accountability and oversight.

The wine commission could not be reached for comment on the audit.

The state’s beer and wine industries are spending a lot of money on overturning the two liquor privatization initiatives that will be on the November ballot for fear of competition. Individual state winemakers are split on the initiatives, however. Wine commission spokesman Ryan Pennington told The Stranger that as a state agency the wine commission cannot support initiatives, but it is working closely with the Washington Wine Institute, which opposes I-1100, the initiative supported by Costco.

15 replies on “State Auditor Says Wine Commission Misused Public Funds”

  1. Christ, how do I get that job? I can bullshit about wine better than most folks, and I can guzzle it like a champion. Of course, they probably wouldn’t want me, because I’d be constantly talking shit about Washington wine’s irrigation practices (i.e., using irrigation at all).

  6. So they’re wining and dining themselves, but when Washington based charities approach them for wine donations, we’re told no. This year, any charity that has anything to do with children was told that they decided they could no longer give wine to charities that provide services to children. Huh? See, we’re the adults running the charities, selling wine to other adults, so we can serve the children. Obviously they were drunk when they made that decision.

  8. Only in Washington would an agency spending a few grand more than it should on a couple parties be huge news. I mean on one hand I like that our State is relatively so corruption free that this is a scandal, but on the other hand I just can’t get that worked up on such minor malfeasance.

  9. “Other questionable expenses include $1,080 for wine during a dinner with 12 employees, 13 commissioners and four non employees at the annual board retreat.”

    How is spending an average of $37.24 per person on wine questionable – especially considering that wine is their job?

  10. I can beat this. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, the Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, spent nearly $7,000 for 70 people (you do the per person math) including a carving station, live music and $100 gift certificates. This is yet another audit that our State Auditor churns out and NO ONE listens to.

    The Auditor asked the Attorney General’s office for their opinion and the AG’s office said without any district policies on banquets/parties, it would be considered “gifting of public money.” And no, the district has no such policies.

    Your tax dollars at work and hey, consider this when they come to you in November for a school levy “for the kids.”

  13. The State Auditor is an attention whoring blowhard who has–thanks to Tim Eyman, cheered on by the Blethens–an infinite supply of taxpayer money to publicize his 2012 gubernatorial campaign. Who gives a fuck about a party?

    How much does it cost to hire enough bean-counters to review every one of those receipts (and hundreds of thousands of others). And how soul-killing must that job be.

  14. @11, it’s not your internet. You had nothing to do with it. You don’t even have the first clue how it works.

    Go jerk off into your mother’s bra.

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