NEW RELEASE:  Performance Audit of Illegal Dumping: Improvements to the Accessibility of Legal Waste Disposal and the City’s Enforcement and Remediation Policies and Operations Could Help Alleviate Oakland’s Illegal Dumping Problem

On April 23, 2026 my Office released a report titled, Performance Audit of Illegal Dumping: Improvements to the Accessibility of Legal Waste Disposal and the City’s Enforcement and Remediation Policies and Operations Could Help Alleviate Oakland’s Illegal Dumping Problem. The audit, which the City Auditor’s Office conducted in response to widespread community concern about illegal dumping, covered the City of Oakland’s illegal dumping activities between 2019 through 2025, but also included financial data from as early as 2013. 

The audit report details how multiple City departments have roles in the City’s efforts to fight illegal dumping in Oakland, including Public Works, the City Administrator’s Office, the Police Department, Code Enforcement, and the Finance Department. The City’s Public Works Department has the most prominent role in the City’s illegal dumping efforts within the public right-of-way. Public Works is responsible for cleaning up illegal dumping and managing the City’s contract with the private hauler that serves Oakland residents and business operators with waste disposal. Since 2013-14, spending on clean ups has increased considerably, nearing $12 million in fiscal year 2024-25. Public Works also has an Environmental Enforcement Unit (EEU) which cites illegal dumping offenders and provides outreach. Spending in that unit has also increased. You can read the full report here.

NEW RELEASE: 2025 ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT 

On April 14^th, my Office released its 2025 Annual Report, detailing a year of high-impact oversight and significant progress in governmental accountability.

A major highlight is the Performance Audit of Police Emergency Response Times, which identified critical staffing shortages at the 9-1-1 Communications Center and led to 10 key recommendations to improve equitable, timely service, and as noted below, earned a Distinguished Knighton Award from ALGA.

The office also oversaw the implementation of 60 audit recommendations across various city departments, demonstrating a strong commitment to long-term corrective action through its semiannual audit report follow-up process.

Beyond audits, the report covers a wide range of Whistleblower Investigation reports to community outreach efforts. From substantiating over $1.6 million in excess overtime pay to uncovering mismanagement in senior centers and improper use of federal grant funds, the Whistleblower Program remains a vital tool for exposing fraud and waste within our City.

With forward-looking audits already underway for police oversight (recently released) and illegal dumping (coming very soon), this Annual report is essential reading for anyone interested in how the Office of the City Auditor is shaping a more effective and ethical Oakland through transparency, accountability, and community engagement. We encourage you to read the full report, here.