Agencies of state government are spending more than $1 million in government funds a year to advertise on the Husker Sports Network and receiving hundreds of tickets to University of Nebraska athletic events and other incentives, State Auditor Mike Foley said Tuesday.

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Over the past three years, the incentives have included more than 2,500 tickets to University of Nebraska athletic events, tailgate party passes, travel and tickets to away games, and autographed footballs, Foley said.

Game tickets have included skybox and premier seating for particular games and in some instances, season tickets.

Foley’s concerns center around a sometimes too-cozy relationship between vendors who seek state contracts and the state officials who negotiate and sign them and later receive gifts from the vendors.

He has other concerns about lax accounting controls over state property in instances where the tickets were a negotiated product to be received under the terms of the contracts.

The issue came to light when the Nebraska Corn Board contacted the auditor's office last month for guidance on tickets and incentives it received and used in 2009.

The Corn Board entered into an advertising contract with the Husker Sports Network and later received 28 tickets to the Nov. 7, 2009 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game and tailgate party.

Ten of those tickets were skybox seats for the game.

The Corn Board was in the process of negotiating a new contract and wanted guidance on accepting additional sports tickets and travel incentives that were offered as part of the new contract.

On Jan. 27, the Corn Board voted unanimously to enter into a new advertising contract with the Husker Sports Network but declined any further tickets or incentives.

Foley has been working closely with officials at the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. The NADC issued an advisory opinion last week to the Corn Board, spelling out the applicable provisions of Nebraska law.