Battle scarred Highline veterans of the war against construction of the third runway at Sea-Tac International Airport are not surprised by an audit critical of the Port of Seattle.

The state audit released late last month charged the port, which operates the airport, squandered $97.2 million in taxpayer funds on construction projects over a three-year period.

Auditors also concluded the port does not have policies to counter possible money misuse.

It found that the five elected port commissioners largely delegated decision making to staff, and that port management misled the commissioners about ongoing projects.

In one case, the audit noted the runway's prime contractor, TTI Construction, submitted a contract bid 19 percent higher than the port engineer's estimate. The commission was supposed to be notified if a bid exceeded the estimate by more than 10 percent.

Instead, according to the audit, former port CEO Mic Dinsmore and airport manager Mark Reis went to Spencer's restaurant along SeaTac's International Boulevard with a TTI owner to negotiate a bid reduction.

State Auditor Brian Sonntag announced Monday that the U.S. Justice Department has begun a criminal investigation based on findings in the audit.

Reacting to the audit," former Airport Communities Coalition chairman Stuart Creighton wrote in an e-mail, "The Port of Seattle is a rogue agency that has no regard for the public, public policy or public law."

The coalition, which consisted of public officials from surrounding airport cities and the Highline School District, engaged in a lengthy legal battle with the port over construction of the third runway.

In an interview, Creighton remembered the port "was never able to give a straight answer."

While port officials estimated the final cost of the runway at $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion, they separated the costs of various parts of the project, such as fill dirt, upgraded lighting and electrical system, new taxiway and the retaining wall, so an accurate cost analysis is not possible, Creighton charged.

Costs for removing homes, underground fuel tanks and home noise insulation were also not factored in, he said.

Runway opponents estimate the final runway costs at close to $3 billion.

Auditors only looked at the last three years, which was the tail end of the construction projects, Creighton said.

For example, the new Gina Marie Lindsey arrivals terminal, which was budgeted at $168 million but ultimately cost $597 million, was completed before the audit time frame.

The terminal cost more than Safeco or Qwest fields, Creighton added.

Almost $100 million in waste, which the auditors claim, is "only the tip of the iceberg," he declared.

Brett Fish, president of Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion (CASE), said port officials have been "experts at stonewalling."

Chris Cortines from the state Auditor's Office is scheduled to speak at the CASE meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. at Highline School District headquarters, 15675 Ambaum Blvd. S.W.

CASE is a private citizens group that also opposed runway construction.

A public hearing on the port audit is also set for Jan. 9 in Olympia.

"This is the perfect example of where we need to rein in irresponsible government and hold them accountable," Fish added.

Fish lays much of the blame on the head of the port's former CEO.

"This is a late present to taxpayers from Mic Dinsmore," Fish declared. "It's easy to give away other people's money when you don't have to earn it."

Fish noted current CEO Tay Yoshitani is in "a tough position. He's bit off more than he can chew."

Voters turned two commissioners, Alec Fisken and Bob Edwards, out of office in November before the audit was released.

"The voters wanted change," Fish observed,

However, Fish refers to Fisken as "our hero.

"He's been pushing for reform all along," Fish said. "This is everything he warned us about."

Highline resident Chris Cain, publisher of the Port Observer newspaper, also is critical of both the port and Dinsmore, who he suggests should be prosecuted for public fraud.

"The public purse has been in danger from sloppy Port management for years," Cain wrote in an e-mail. "We've lost millions due to the lack of public oversight."

Port officials said they would use the audit results to strengthen contracting practices.

"I am taking the results of this audit seriously," Yoshitani said. "It is disappointing that our own policies and procedures were not followed in some instances."

Added port commission president John Creighton, "Good stewardship of taxpayer and customer resources is a top priority for the Commission. We will use this audit to increase the return on their investment."