A rendering of Hartford's Dillon Stadium. Image courtesy of the Hartford Athletic.

The quasi-public Capitol Region Development Authority has responded to an audit critical of how it handled Hartford’s Dillon Stadium project.

The authority, charged with redeveloping the city and its surrounding communities, issued $4 million in state bonds too soon, the audit found. The money was disbursed before the city and its contractor had signed a contract for the project, intended to prepare the stadium for professional soccer games.

CRDA Executive Director Michael Freimuth said the audit did not take into account the “nuances” his staff weighed in deciding to issue the money when they did, the Hartford Business Journal reported.

Critics say the state’s quasi-public development entities should be more closely scrutinized, or even disbanded.