FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do you choose what to audit?
I select audits by prioritizing the areas of greatest concern in our City. I listen carefully to all citizen concerns. All audits are determined by a combination of factors including, but not limited to, a program/department's budget size, vulnerability to fraud, waste and abuse, any prior audit coverage as well as concerns from citizens, City officials and City staff.
If you have an audit suggestion, please tell the auditor.
Who do you report to?
As your elected City Auditor, I report directly to you, the citizens of Oakland. I do not report to the Mayor or the City Council - I work on your behalf.
Why is the City Auditor elected?
As an independently elected official, I am able to be objective, impartial and resolute when auditing the city. No one can influence what I look at, how I look at it, or what I find. I am your eyes and ears inside City Hall.
What can and can't the City Auditor look at?
As your City Auditor, the City Charter gives my office the authority to audit anything in city government. There's nothing we can't look into. Read more about the City Auditor's duties and responsibilities here.
How big is your staff?
The Office of the City Auditor is currently staffed at 50% of a required level for a city of Oakland's size. I have 9.5 full-time positions, including the City Auditor. Eight of these positions are auditors; 1.5 are administrative. Long Beach, a city comparable in population and city employees, has sixteen (16) full-time auditors.
What is your budget and how is your office funded?
For fiscal year 2008-09, the Office of the City Auditor's budget was $1.5 million with $250,000 designated solely for the Whistleblower/ Fraud, Waste & Abuse Unit.
How much money do you save the City?
For every $1 spent to fund this office, we bring in $4 to the City through cost-savings and additional revenue. For FY 2008-09 alone we uncovered $6.4 million dollars for the City.
What is a performance audit?
A performance audit looks at more than just money. It is a rigorous analysis of government operations to determine:
- how business processes are working or not working;
- whether policies and procedures are effective;
- what internal controls need to be strengthened or implemented; and
- if programs are getting the results they promised the taxpayers.
Essentially it is a report card to show whether your tax dollars are being spent as intended.
Why does your office do performance audits?
Performance auditing is now standard practice in government auditing. And every audit we conduct includes specific recommendations for city officials to address the problems our audit identifies. Performance auditing is a critical tool for creating transparency, accountability and effectiveness in Oakland's government.
What happens after an audit is completed? Who is responsible for fixing the problems found in your audits?
All of our audits include recommendations to fix or strengthen the programs and systems we've audited. After an audit is performed, the City administration is responsible for implementing our recommendations to make the necessary changes. (Per the Charter and to preserve our independence, my office has no authority in day-to-day management activities nor the ability to implement audit recommendations.)
Later, my office will return to perform a follow-up audit to determine how well the City has implemented these recommendations. Read more about the audit process here.
Are audit results shared with City employees and managers?
Yes. As part of our audit standards, we work to keep the Administration informed at all steps of the audit process. For every audit we do, the department or division being audited is invited to prepare a written response to the audit which is then included with the final audit report. Read more about our audit process here.
How do I know I can trust your audits?
All of our audits are performed according to Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). This means that all of our work is based strictly on fact, and each finding has documented evidence. Read more about audit standards here.
If an audit finds evidence of wrongdoing, what happens next?
For criminal acts, the City Auditor can refer information to the District Attorney for prosecution. Other evidence of wrongdoing may follow the City's personnel directives or other internal standards for discipline.
What can citizens like me do to improve the City of Oakland?
I need your help to create the level of transparency and accountability we desire in City Hall. Here are three ways you can help:
- Sign up for our email alert list to stay informed. We will only send out emails when I have something important to say or when I need your help.
- Communicate with my office about audit recommendations and your concerns.
- When I issue an audit, read the reports and contact the City Council and the Mayor to ensure the recommendations are implemented.
