July 1, 2024

Audit Raises Doubts About the Effectiveness of the City of Oakland’s $500,000 and $175,000 Grants to Improve Access to Healthy Food for its Most Vulnerable Residents

Poor management and oversight of grants to Saba Grocers Initiative and its fiscal sponsor prevented the City from ensuring taxpayer money was well spent.

OAKLAND, Calif. (June 28, 2024): Today, the Oakland City Auditor’s Office released a report detailing the results of an audit of grants from the City of Oakland to Saba Grocers Initiative and its fiscal sponsor, InAdvance. Several anonymous whistleblower complaints prompted the audit.

April 30, 2024

Audit Finds Absent Leadership and Lack of Institutional Guidance Contributed to the City Missing a Deadline for Applying to the State Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant

City departments and community members spent weeks applying for millions of dollars of grant funding, but isolated and disorganized efforts prevented the City from submitting an application by the deadline.

OAKLAND, Calif. (April 30, 2024): Today, the Office of the City Auditor released a report summarizing its audit of the City of Oakland’s application for funding from the State of California’s Organized Retail Theft Prevention (ORTP) Grant Program.

March 21, 2024

Oakland’s City Auditor Releases First Semiannual Audit Recommendation Follow-Up Report Providing the Statuses of All Audit Recommendations Over the Past Decade

OAKLAND, Calif. (March 21, 2024): Today, the Office of the City Auditor released its first ever comprehensive audit recommendation follow-up report. In reviewing all the recommendations issued over the past 10 years, staff found that of 265 unique audit recommendations, the City Administration has implemented 117 of them, or 44 percent. Another 62 recommendations (23 percent) are partially implemented, while 86 (33 percent) have not been implemented. The Office of the City Auditor independently assesses City programs and makes recommendations to improve them, but the City Administration must implement the recommendations towards fulfilling the common goal of an equitable, effective, and ethical City government.

December 21, 2023

Audit Shows the City Spent Only $36.5 Million of the Nearly $53 Million Collected From Property Owners in the First Two Years of Measure Q

OAKLAND, Calif. (December 21, 2023): Today, the Office of the City Auditor released an audit report related to the 2020 Parks and Recreation Preservation, Litter Reduction, and Homelessness Support Act. Oakland voters passed the Act in March 2020 as “Measure Q.”

September 8, 2023

Oakland’s City Auditor Courtney Ruby, Resigns After 13 Years of Devoted Service 

Today, Oakland’s City Auditor Courtney Ruby, announced she will be resigning effective October 13, 2023. Auditor Ruby acknowledges her deep appreciation for being Oakland’s elected watchdog, now serving her fourth term, noting, “It is with deep sadness and gratitude that I will be resigning from my position effective October 13th due to personal and family reasons. This was not an easy decision to make, yet I feel it is the right decision for me and my family.”

November 17, 2022

WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIM SUBSTANTIATED: Investigation Reveals Oakland Fire Department Inspectors Working Without Required Certifications

Audit in 2020 warned of deficiency – yet inadequate management and oversight led to 40% of civilian fire inspectors and 75% of supervisors failing to meet minimum certification requirements

September 19, 2022

The City spent nearly $69 million over the last 3 years on contracts to provide various homelessness services, but audit reveals Oakland needs to do more to ensure our unhoused residents’ living situations are vastly improved.

The City had mixed results in placing homeless residents into permanent housing and better information is needed to determine whether they remain housed

November 9, 2021

Investigation Reveals Department Director Defrauded City By Channeling $75,000 in Federal Funds Through the Parks and Recreation Foundation To Pay Unauthorized Service Provider

Unchecked authority coupled with lax fiscal management by the City’s fiscal sponsor – leads to City rules circumvented and federal funds misspent

October 13, 2021

Family Violence Law Center and Oakland City Auditor, Courtney Ruby Collaborate to Create Deeper Impact for Women Experiencing Homelessness

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Family Violence Law Center (FVLC) and Oakland’s City Auditor, Courtney Ruby announce their collaboration to expand the public discourse on gender and homelessness.

April 14, 2021

Audit Reveals City Incurred Costs Of $12.6 Million In the Last Two Fiscal Years, Mostly Unbudgeted, To Manage the City’s Explosive Growth in Homeless Encampments

The City was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the homeless crisis, lacked a comprehensive strategy, and needed policy direction and dedicated funding early in the crisis

January 6, 2021

Investigation Reveals Lax Procurement Process—Resulting In Questionable Contract Award And Poor Biohazard Clean-Up Service

Whistleblower complaint alleged contractor was not qualified, and specific requests for picking up hypodermic needles from the public rights-of-way were not being fulfilled

September 30, 2020

Audit Reveals Three Years After Ghost Ship, Fire Prevention Reforms Still Not Implemented

Even after identifying specific needed reforms and adding inspection staff, 51% of all known properties requiring an annual inspection have not been inspected in the last 3 years

June 1, 2020

Audit reveals Oakland’s Police Commission and Community Police Review Agency, with high expectations from the community, has a rocky start

Lack of planning, administrative obstacles, and a need for the Commission to better understand its role and responsibilities as a public oversight body has impeded the Commission and the Community Police Review Agency’s progress

April 16, 2020

Oakland Auditor Releases Report on the City of Oakland’s Financial Condition Prior to COVID-19

Report highlights serious financial challenges facing the City of Oakland — issues that will likely be compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic

February 26, 2020

Investigation Reveals Mismanagement of Oakland’s Controlled Substances

Inadequate oversight and inept management leads to loss of drugs

June 10, 2019

Audit Reveals OPD’s Overtime Budgetary Practices in Dire Need of an Overhaul

Over last four years Oakland Police Department averaged nearly $30 million in overtime costs and issues raised in 2015 audit remain unresolved.

November 15, 2018

Special Review of The Unity Council, Confirms Resolution of Financial Challenges

The Management Team and Board of Directors are Working Hard to Strengthen the Financial Stability of the Organization and its Operations

September 13, 2018

Audit Finds Oakland Businesses are Forced to Wait Up to One Year for City Tax Refunds

Unclear City Guidelines & Outdated Procedures are Obstacles to Issuing Timely Tax Refunds

August 22, 2018

Audit of Measure D, the Kids First! Oakland Fund for Children and Youth Act, finds funding and spending issues

$2 million of required adjustments were not completed on time

May 29, 2018

Audit of Measure Q: Library Services Retention Act

Measure Q expenditures substantially met the Measure’s requirements, with possible exceptions in 2 years

May 29, 2018

Oakland Fire Department spent Measure M & N proceeds as intended, but audit stresses the need for better management of controlled substances and more detailed spending plans

The Office of the City Auditor released the audits of Measures M (Emergency Medical Services Retention Act) and N (Paramedic Services Act in 1997) for fiscal years (FY) 2015-16 and FY 2016-17.