Phoenix leaders call for investigation into Valley Metro spending

PHOENIX — Three Phoenix City Council members called for an investigation Friday into the spending habits of Valley Metro, which runs the city’s bus and light rail services.

While CEO Steve Banta has already announced his January resignation amid a newspaper investigation into his spending, councilmembers Sal DiCiccio, Jim Waring and Michael Nowakowski asked Attorney General Mark Brnovich to look into the agency as a whole.

In a letter, the trio said “the nature of the allegations warrants a thorough investigation from your office,” despite an audit on the agency’s finances already underway.

Valley Metro reportedly paid almost $19,000 to take Glendale city officials to Oregon three months ago to examine Portland’s light-rail system with the two-day trip including a $4,695 dinner tab.

Banta’s expense and credit card records also show he flew first class on eight of the 11 trips he took this year while representing Valley Metro on business and at conferences around the U.S. and Europe, The Republic said.

“We had no idea this was going on,” said Thelda Williams, a Phoenix city councilwoman who chairs the light-rail board.

Before submitting his resignation, Banta defended the spending, saying his attendance at international conferences allows Phoenix to be a player in the worldwide transit industry.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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