An internal audit of the Texas Facilities Commission has found some employees were hired without facing competition, promotions were made with little supporting material and people were being paid after they stopped working for the agency.
The Austin American Statesman reported Saturday that its review of the agency also found that some of the individuals who seem to have benefited from the actions listed in the audit had personal or political connections to its executive director at the time, Terry Keel.
Keel is now an assistant commissioner at the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Keel says all employees hired during his tenure at the facilities commission "were hired on merit and were outstanding hires for the agency."
The commission is charged with overseeing the state government's physical plants.
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Information from: Austin American-Statesman, http://www.statesman.com
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