Parking Refunds, Fraud Conviction, Measure Q Audit, and more... 

December 19, 2013

CR Crop
Office of the City Auditor
1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 4th Floor
Oakland, California 94612
(510) 238-3378
Dear Oaklanders,
  
Today I would like to share with you important news from my office.
  
GETTING RESULTS FOR THE CITIZENS OF OAKLAND
  
$2.3 Million in Parking Refunds to be Returned to Citizens
Last year I released an audit on the Administration's management of parking tickets which revealed that the City lacked an adequate refund process. As a result of that audit, the Administration has identified $2.3 million due to citizens. Notifications of overpayments incurred during the years 2008, 2009, and 2010 will be sent from January 9 through March 9, 2014. Citizens will have 60 days to respond. Refunds may also be requested by submitting a Refund Request Form (click here).
  
Local Business Owner Charged for Defrauding the City
My Office initiated an investigation that was instrumental in the filing of felony charges by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office against a local business owner, Dharminder "Dhar" Mann, for allegedly defrauding the City. After investigating a tip reported on the FW+A hotline, this Office brought its findings to the District Attorney's Office. On December 6, 2013, Mr. Mann pleaded no contest to five felony counts of defrauding the City. Our report will be issued once the sentencing is completed. Click here to read more.
  
LIBRARY SERVICES RETENTION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT AUDIT 
Today we are releasing an audit which reviewed the Oakland Public Library's administration of Measure Q funds during fiscal years 2009-10 through 2012-13. In 2004, the voters of Oakland passed Measure Q, the Library Services Retention and Enhancement Act, to enhance and expand library services. I am pleased to share that the audit found that the Library properly administered and spent Measure Q funds while enhancing and expanding library services. Click here to read the report.
  
FOLLOW-UP AUDIT RECOMMENDATION REPORTS
Today we are releasing two reports highlighting the Administration's progress in implementing recommendations from the Accounts Payable Duplicative Payments Audit FY 2008-09 and 2009-10 and the Public Works Agency - Illegal Dumping Abatement Program (PWA - IDAP) Accounts Receivables Audit
 
I am pleased to report that the Administration implemented all seven recommendations in the Accounts Payable audit to prevent erroneous and duplicate payments.  Additionally, as a result of the PWA-IDAP audit, the Administration eliminated an ineffective receivables process as well as successfully implemented all remaining recommendations. 
 
The reports can be found here and here.

SEASON'S GREETINGS
The Office of the City Auditor staff wish you and yours the merriest of holidays.
 
 
Committed to serving you with the utmost integrity,

Sign Full


COURTNEY A. RUBY, CPA, CFE

City Auditor

 
NEWS RELEASE Tree Red
Office of the City Auditor  
City of Oakland 
____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 19, 2013

 

                                                                                     

Parking Ticket Management Audit Triggers $2.3 Million in Parking Refunds  

As a result of audit, Administration determines that millions in refunds are owed to citizens.

 

OAKLAND, Calif. (December 19, 2013): As a result of the City Auditor's Parking Ticket Management Performance Audit, the City of Oakland has gone back and set aside $2.3 million for parking refunds due to citizens for years 2008, 2009, and 2010.

 

The Parking Ticket Management Performance Audit released by the City Auditor in December 2012 reported that the City was holding more than $316,000 in overpaid parking tickets from residents and businesses in FY 2010-11 alone. Under California Government Code sections 50050-50051, public agencies are required to hold such unclaimed funds for three years and notify citizens of overpayment before the agency can use the overpaid monies. Oakland previously has neither notified citizens of overpayment or had an adequate refund process - instead, the City placed the burden on citizens to identify the overpayments and request a refund.

 

The City Administrator's FY 2012-13 Fourth Quarter Revenue and Expenditure Report presented to the City Council in November revealed that, as a result of the audit, Administrative Services needed to set aside $2.3 million in City funds to pay for three years of parking refunds. "Our audit identified a gaping hole in the Administration's processes," concluded City Auditor Ruby. "I am pleased with the Administration's diligence after the audit to identify the magnitude of the problem and to properly set aside $2.3 million owed to the citizens."

 

The Administration will send notifications of the overpayments January 9 through March 9, 2014. Citizens will have 60 days to respond. Refunds may also be requested by submitting a Refund Request Form (click here).

 

For a copy of the Parking Ticket Management Performance Audit, visit:

 

 

ABOUT OAKLAND CITY AUDITOR RUBY

City Auditor Courtney A. Ruby, CPA, CFE, took office in January 2007 and was re-elected November 2, 2010. Performance audits of the City's Pension, and Measure D and recommendation follow-ups for Oakland Police Department Technology and CEDA Loans Receivables are in progress. Earlier audits reviewed Oakland Fire Department Vegetation Management, Councilmember Interference in Administrative Affairs, the City's parking ticket Management, Oakland Police Department technology management, the City's hiring practices, funding for children and youth services, library services, CEDA and PWA receivable series, the Public Works Agency, and the grant management for the Measure Y Violence Prevention Programs. In July 2013, an Association of Local Government Auditors peer review team found the Office of the City Auditor met the highest government standards in performance auditing. 

 

Visit: www.OaklandAuditor.com to learn more about Oakland's Office of the City Auditor.

 

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