The issue arose after critics alleged the four-year project is being mismanaged. They claim numerous unauthorized change orders in the construction schedule have already triggered $8 million in overruns from the project's $30 million contingency fund.

Convention center officials and managers deny the charges and say, through representatives, they welcome an audit or investigation of any kind into the costs to date.

Tom Ackert, a career county official and executive director of the center, couldn't be reached at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline. But associates who are working closely with him tell GlobeSt.com on condition of anonymity that Ackert is "as clean as a whistle."