Couch vs. C-Tran continued

Here’s a guest entry from our intrepid transportation reporter Eric Florip, on the back-and-forth that continues even after we go to press:

Last week’s analysis of C-Tran’s finances kicked up a spirited debate about the agency’s fiscal management and priorities, just days before the Nov. 8 vote on Proposition 1.

Forensic accountant Tiffany Couch questioned several of C-Tran’s recent financial claims, and argued the agency doesn’t have to cut bus service even if the proposed sales tax hike fails — as long as it forgoes planned spending on high-capacity transit projects. C-Tran fired back with a response of its own that called Couch’s analysis “fatally flawed.”

The subsequent back-and-forth continued well into the weekend.

Couch put together a point-by-point rebuttal of C-Tran’s response Friday. She also traded several lengthy e-mails with Clark County Commissioners Marc Boldt and Steve Stuart — both C-Tran board members — on Friday and Saturday.

On Saturday evening, Couch posted all the documents and emails on the blog of her accounting firm, Acuity Group PLLC. If you’re following the debate, there’s some interesting stuff there.

It’s unclear how many minds were changed from either side, but I’d say the comments to our original story were pretty split both ways. Time will tell.

Ballots have to be turned in or post-marked tomorrow. Results should be available shortly after 8 p.m.

— Eric Florip