Auditor warns of 'exorbitant' cost of state office leasing

State auditor Mike Foley says Nebraska is spending too much on leasing commercial office space. In a letter he sent to the Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee Monday, Foley highlighted the 37% increase in the amount the state paid for commercially leased space over the last five years. He said the state should consider buying or building new properties to save money long term, since the cost per square foot is significantly cheaper at state-owned buildings.