New findings are being added to the Court of Accounts' findings that public resources are damaged due to incorrect or incomplete practices.
The audit report prepared by the Court of Accounts regarding Akdeniz University's 2025 accounts revealed a number of problems, from the use of real estate rented by the university to the rental prices and the license status of canteens and cafeterias.
The report stated that some practices caused the university's income to remain low.
5 AREAS WERE EXAMINED
Measurements were made by the university's technical staff in five rented areas selected as examples within the scope of the Court of Accounts audit.
In all five areas examined, businesses were found to be using a larger area than stated in the lease agreement.
According to the report, no permission or approval was received from the university for the use of these additional areas that were not included in the contract. The Court of Accounts stated that businesses may be charged retroactive fees for areas used without permission, and sections used outside of the contract may be evacuated.
The university administration also stated that after the inspection, work was initiated to re-measure all rental areas.
50 PERCENT APPLICATION IN OLBIA MARKET
One of the most striking findings in the report was regarding Olbia Bazaar. The Court of Accounts determined that the additional areas created by the tenants before 2019, contrary to the project and without permission from the university, were included in the rent calculation with a 50 percent discount in the tenders held in the following years.
The Court of Accounts pointed out that the price to be charged for an area used without permission should not be below the current rental value and requested that the method applied in the past be changed.
In its response to the Court of Accounts, the university management stated that it has begun to determine whether the square meters specified in the contract are exceeded in all rented areas, and that if excess use is determined, a retroactive fee will be requested for these areas.
RENTS ARE BELOW THE MARKET VALUE
During the audit, lease agreements exceeding five years were also examined. The Court of Accounts stated that rents are increased annually by the CPI rate, but some prices remain below current market values due to the 25 percent rent increase limit applied in the past.
It was noted that for rents exceeding five years, a new price was not determined by taking into account the rental prices of similar real estate in the surrounding area, and as a result, the university's budget revenues remained low.
The Court of Accounts also reminded that preventing an increase in public revenue or causing a decrease in public resources is defined as "public harm" in the legislation. The university administration stated that the rental prices of immovable properties that have exceeded five years have started to be re-evaluated by experts and the new determined values have been notified to the tenants.
LACK OF LICENSE IN CANTINES AND CAFETERIA DRAW ATTENTION
In the audit of the Court of Accounts, deficiencies were also identified in the canteens and cafeterias on the campus. For example, it was noted that there were deficiencies in the businesses examined in terms of business opening and working licenses, food business registration certificates and employee hygiene training documents.
The report stated that the canteens and cafeterias examined did not have a business and operating license from the relevant municipality.
While the university management reported that the license procedures were continuing, the Court of Accounts emphasized that action should be taken against businesses that do not have the necessary documents, in line with the provisions of the lease agreements.
