California wasted $580,000 by leaving leased office space vacant for four years, and an administrator was improperly reimbursed more than $70,000 for commuting from her Southern California home to her Sacramento office, including lodging and meal costs, California's auditor has said.

State Auditor Elaine Howle said her office completed nine investigations of whistle-blower claims received during the last six months of 2008 that turned up 'substantiated allegations' in several agencies.

'Through our investigative methods, we found waste of state funds, improper payments, improper contracting and misuse of state resources,' Howle wrote to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Los Angeles Times