Office of the City Auditor
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 4th Floor
Oakland, California 94612
www.oaklandauditor.com
(510) 238-3378
April 15, 2011
Dear Oaklanders,
Today I'd like to share with you some important audits and projects we've been working on to create greater accountability and transparency in your city government.
Measure Q
The Office's follow-up on the Measure Q Performance Audit recommendations found that all four of the four open recommendations from the audit report were fully implemented and closed. This collaborative effort to implement fully these recommendations resulted from a positive and constructive approach - one that should serve as a model for all future audit recommendation implementation by the City.
This prompt implementation of all of the audit's recommendations has:
- Enhanced internal controls over Measure Q purchases and the Measure Q reserve fund
- Increased preventive measures against fraud
- Reimbursed $43,848 in inappropriate charges
To read the follow-up report, click here.
Security Contract
In response to my Office's notification about possible illegal contributions from competitors bidding in the City Hall complex security contract, the Public Ethics Commission unanimously voted last week to direct Commission staff to launch an investigation. We will report back to you after the Commission has completed its investigation.
Also last week, City Council voted to accept staff's recommendation and award the contract to the highest ranked participant from the competitive bid process for Oakland's City Hall complex security contract.
If you missed this important issue and would like to read some of the news coverage, click here.
Upcoming Audits
- ARRA: given the unprecedented transparency and accountability requirements from the White House for these federal dollars, this audit will tell us how well Oakland has been doing
- Fox Theater Renovation Project: as every dollar becomes more and more precious, this audit will enhance future City-funded, major construction projects by showing what worked and what didn't for the Fox Theater's renovation
- Online Business Tax: this is a unique collaborative project between the Auditor's Office and the City Administration to address the business community's desire to have online payment options
To learn more about upcoming audits, click here.
Committed to serving you with the utmost integrity,
COURTNEY A. RUBY, CPA, CFE
City Auditor