Even as it has been begging for more tax revenue, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has wasted millions of dollars. It also has been on the wrong side of state law and federal transportation regulations. And it has provided some cushy contracts for private consultants.

All this, and more, can be found in the 98-page report from the Legislative Audit Council. The independent audit is, as Gov. Mark Sanford said Wednesday, a "call to action." Two legislative committees begin meeting today to review the LAC report and at least one more legislative committee will weigh in. The DOT Commission will meet after Thanksgiving to review the audit.

Change clearly will be demanded at DOT, one of the largest state agencies with 5,000 employees and an annual budget of more than $1 billion. Taxpayers will see to it that the status quo no longer prevails at this state agency that should be a better steward of its limited funds. Those taxpayers also can see that many roads in this state are crying out for repairs and upgrades, and that an agency that mismanages the funds it now has shouldn't be given more until it gets its house in order. So change surely is in the works.

This performance audit by the highly respected Legislative Audit Council provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get it right at DOT. Lasting reform must go beyond tightening up how contracts are written, putting in safeguards to make sure the state gets its money's worth out of private contractors and removing the appearance of favoritism in some hiring decisions. Lasting reform must even go beyond putting a new executive in charge of this state agency -- although the audit certainly gives credibility to DOT Chairman Tee Hooper's claim that such a move is needed.

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Gov. Mark Sanford is right when he said Wednesday that "you can't have a separate island of government and have accountability in government." True reform at DOT means legislators have to change the structure of this huge state agency so it is more accountable. Doing that means putting the agency under the control of the governor, preferably by making it part of the governor's cabinet but at the minimum by allowing the governor to appoint all of the DOT commissioners.

South Carolina residents deserve good roads. They have the right to expect that their tax money is spent wisely. They should demand an overhaul of DOT.

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