| Greetings!
We welcome 2010 by continuing to provide independent oversight of City operations and being a catalyst for improving City government. Our audits provide the City Manager, City Council, and the public with objective, timely, and accurate information about City program performance. My office has two action items and one information item coming before the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday, January 26 at 7 PM. |
| Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2009 (Action Item) |
|
Why is the City not making cost savings and risk reduction a priority? Tough economic times are only part of the answer. Could it be that problems which result from cuts to oversight activities are starting to be revealed? Our report on the work we performed in 2009 shows that the City Manager agreed with 97% of our recommendations and pledged to take action. The rate at which departments implemented them timely declined from 52% to 17%. We will continue to monitor this trend.
|
Fiscal Responsibility and Outstanding Audits: Policies, Problems, and Solutions
(Action Item) |
|
There will be a steady reduction in staff and services over the next five years. State and national budget deficits and local revenue shortfalls are expected to persist.
Council should re-affirm their commitment to specific policies related to prioritization of oversight and efficiency improvement activities. Support and oversight departments must perform certain basic functions to avoid putting the City at risk. This includes taking action on audits. Outstanding audit recommendations involve key internal control elements:
- Written procedures
- Effective Software
- Priorities, performance and monitoring
Council will discuss the budget on February 9 at 5 PM. |
| 2009 Peer Review: Audit of the City of Berkeley Auditor's Office (Information Item) |
|
Who audits the auditors? Our office was found to be in full compliance with Generally Accepted Government Audit Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States for the period November 1, 2006 through October 30, 2009.
|
