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Auditor urges gov’t to recover $961,122
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Posted on Jan 26 1999
The Office of Public Auditor has identified a total of $961,122 in improperly spent monies that once recovered would help the government improve its financial condition.
The amount accumulated because audit recommendations were not properly implemented, according to Public Auditor Leo LaMotte, who suggested that an official from the Governor’s Office be designated to pursue the closure of open or resolved recommendations.
The report showed funds were either misused by government officials and agencies or paid to salaries and other services contracts.
Of the amount, $257,883 was improperly paid to the CUC executive director; $100,249 to the former Secretary of Finance; $224,134 to services contracts of the executive branch and $151,180 to the former managing director of MVB.
As of December 1998, OPA tracked a total of 357 audit recommendations in 57 final reports issued to various departments and agencies of the government during the year and outstanding from previous years.
Of the 357 audit recommendations, 76 are closed and 281 are either open or resolved. Of the 281 open or resolved recommendations, 150 are considered delinquent.
From January to December 1998, 16 final reports which included 158 recommendations were added to OPA’s audit recommendation tracking system.
As of December 1998, OPA was able to close 53 outstanding recommendations, 24 of which pertain to previous years’ audits whereas 29 recommendations pertain to current year audits.
OPA also reported that open and resolved recommendations increased by 105 due to the additional recommendations pertaining to current years’ audits.
“Due to the increase in delinquent recommendations, we are once again seeking the assistance of the Coordinating Group in enforcing compliance from the auditees with the audit recommendations,” LaMotte said.
