Cincinnati council OKs Performance Audit
Lead Summary
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Auditor of State Dave Yost this week praised the Cincinnati City Council for their unanimous, bipartisan vote yesterday to authorize a performance audit to “skinny down” the city’s Department of Public Services.
“These are hard times, and the people of Cincinnati are well-served by this decision to use a cutting-edge process to find smart savings,” Auditor Yost said. “Across the board cuts can endanger vital services. A performance audit can often find savings through efficiencies and best practices that will preserve the level of service.”
On June 13, 2011, the Cincinnati City Council passed a motion to engage the Auditor of State’s office to identify cost savings through a performance audit of all city departments and divisions. These departments include public services, police and fire administration, transportation and engineering, building and inspections, and enterprise technology solutions.
In a unanimous vote this week, council passed an emergency funding ordinance to authorize the transfer of $80,000 to conduct a performance audit. The focus of this audit will be the Department of Public Services.
The ordinance was sponsored by Councilman Charlie Winburn, and the scope of the performance audit will include an analysis of the city’s sanitation and facilities management operations and fleet services.
Performance audits are designed to provide cost savings, revenue enhancements, and/or efficiency improvements. The process usually takes four to six months to complete and will provide city leaders with recommendations in the form of a report.
City leaders also will receive regular updates from the Auditor of State’s office throughout the audit period to aid the city in the decision-making process for the next budget cycle.
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Village of Wayne Lakes’ financial records deemed 'unauditable'
As a result of inadequate financial records, Auditor of State Dave Yost also has placed the Village of Wayne Lakes on the “unauditable” list.
“Poor records lead to poor service for taxpayers,” Auditor Yost said. “Auditable records must be provided to complete the audit and ensure accountability to the citizens of Wayne Lakes.”
During the course of the regular financial audit of the Village of Wayne Lakes for the period January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010, the Auditor of State’s office determined that the condition of the village’s financial records were not adequate to complete the audit.
In a letter dated August 4, 2011, the Auditor of State’s office provided a list of records required to complete the audit to village officials.
Within 90 days of the date of the letter, the Village of Wayne Lakes must revise its financial records and provide the necessary data.
Failure to bring records to an auditable condition may result in legal action, including the possibility of the attorney general issuing a subpoena to the fiscal officer and mayor to explain the condition of records.
The attorney general may also file suit to compel the fiscal officer and mayor to prepare and/or produce the required information.
The Auditor of State’s Local Government Section (LGS) is available to village officials to assist in bringing records to an auditable condition. LGS provides a wide variety of services to local governments, including reconstructing financial records and aid in the reconciliation of books.
An entity is removed from the “unauditable” list once the audit is completed and released to the public. The Village of Wayne Lakes, located in Darke County, has a population of 718 (2010 census).[[In-content Ad]]
“These are hard times, and the people of Cincinnati are well-served by this decision to use a cutting-edge process to find smart savings,” Auditor Yost said. “Across the board cuts can endanger vital services. A performance audit can often find savings through efficiencies and best practices that will preserve the level of service.”
On June 13, 2011, the Cincinnati City Council passed a motion to engage the Auditor of State’s office to identify cost savings through a performance audit of all city departments and divisions. These departments include public services, police and fire administration, transportation and engineering, building and inspections, and enterprise technology solutions.
In a unanimous vote this week, council passed an emergency funding ordinance to authorize the transfer of $80,000 to conduct a performance audit. The focus of this audit will be the Department of Public Services.
The ordinance was sponsored by Councilman Charlie Winburn, and the scope of the performance audit will include an analysis of the city’s sanitation and facilities management operations and fleet services.
Performance audits are designed to provide cost savings, revenue enhancements, and/or efficiency improvements. The process usually takes four to six months to complete and will provide city leaders with recommendations in the form of a report.
City leaders also will receive regular updates from the Auditor of State’s office throughout the audit period to aid the city in the decision-making process for the next budget cycle.
***
Village of Wayne Lakes’ financial records deemed 'unauditable'
As a result of inadequate financial records, Auditor of State Dave Yost also has placed the Village of Wayne Lakes on the “unauditable” list.
“Poor records lead to poor service for taxpayers,” Auditor Yost said. “Auditable records must be provided to complete the audit and ensure accountability to the citizens of Wayne Lakes.”
During the course of the regular financial audit of the Village of Wayne Lakes for the period January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2010, the Auditor of State’s office determined that the condition of the village’s financial records were not adequate to complete the audit.
In a letter dated August 4, 2011, the Auditor of State’s office provided a list of records required to complete the audit to village officials.
Within 90 days of the date of the letter, the Village of Wayne Lakes must revise its financial records and provide the necessary data.
Failure to bring records to an auditable condition may result in legal action, including the possibility of the attorney general issuing a subpoena to the fiscal officer and mayor to explain the condition of records.
The attorney general may also file suit to compel the fiscal officer and mayor to prepare and/or produce the required information.
The Auditor of State’s Local Government Section (LGS) is available to village officials to assist in bringing records to an auditable condition. LGS provides a wide variety of services to local governments, including reconstructing financial records and aid in the reconciliation of books.
An entity is removed from the “unauditable” list once the audit is completed and released to the public. The Village of Wayne Lakes, located in Darke County, has a population of 718 (2010 census).[[In-content Ad]]