State & Local Reports

The investigation determined that Building Official John Travers, the city employee in charge of BSD and all building permitting within the city, engaged in misconduct1 when he knowingly sanctioned unpermitted construction on a project to build a 12-story condominium building and then, after BSD staff issued a stop-work order for performing work without a permit, he issued the project a sham permit that enabled construction to continue without necessary plans reviews—most notably, for fire safety.

What Was Performed? An examination of the Colonial School District’s compliance with the Authorized Position requirements set forth in the Delaware Code, Delaware Law (formerly, 149th General Assembly; Senate Bill No. 235 (SB235)), and the State of Delaware Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM). Why This Engagement? The State Auditor performed an examination to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 Authorized Positions were not exceeded by comparing the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a school district employed. In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Office of Auditor of Accounts is directed to examine the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of the regular, annual audit review for all public-school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991. During Fiscal Year 2019, the State budgeted approximately $999 million to cover the State’s share of salaries and benefits for school district authorized positions. School District personnel costs comprise 23% of the State’s budget. In March 2020, the Governor of the state of Delaware declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus continued throughout 2021, including closures of school districts. Because of the hurdles school districts faced in relation to teaching, remote learning, nutrition and emotional support to students, State Auditor McGuiness honored the requests of school districts to delay this engagement. This accommodation not only fulfilled the needs of school districts but ensured the integrity of the engagement. What Was Found? It is my pleasure to report Colonial School District complied, in all material respects, with the criteria mentioned above. Colonial School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 through 2019 can be found on our website. For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness at Kathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov.

What Was Performed? An examination of the Delmar School District’s compliance with the Authorized Position requirements set forth in the Delaware Code, Delaware Law (formerly, 149th General Assembly; Senate Bill No. 235 (SB235)), and the State of Delaware Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM). Why This Engagement? The State Auditor performed an examination to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 Authorized Positions were not exceeded by comparing the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a school district employed. In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Office of Auditor of Accounts is directed to examine the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of the regular, annual audit review for all public-school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991. During Fiscal Year 2019, the State budgeted approximately $999 million to cover the State’s share of salaries and benefits for school district authorized positions. School District personnel costs comprise 23% of the State’s budget. In March 2020, the Governor of the state of Delaware declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus continued throughout 2021, including closures of school districts. Because of the hurdles school districts faced in relation to teaching, remote learning, nutrition and emotional support to students, State Auditor McGuiness honored the requests of school districts to delay this engagement. This accommodation not only fulfilled the needs of school districts but ensured the integrity of the engagement. What Was Found? It is my pleasure to report Delmar School District complied, in all material respects, with the criteria mentioned above. Delmar School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 through 2019 can be found on our website. For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness at Kathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov.

The Broward Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has concluded its review into Broward County’s expenditure of the funds that it received from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The OIG conducted this review to independently monitor the administration of the CARES Act funding that the United States Department of the Treasury (Treasury) allocated to Broward County through the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF).

What Was Performed? An examination of the Christina School District’s compliance with the Authorized Position requirements set forth in the Delaware Code, Delaware Law (formerly, 149th General Assembly; Senate Bill No. 235 (SB235)), and the State of Delaware Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM). Why This Engagement? The State Auditor performed an examination to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 Authorized Positions were not exceeded by comparing the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a school district employed. In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Office of Auditor of Accounts is directed to examine the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of the regular, annual audit review for all public-school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991. During Fiscal Year 2019, the State budgeted approximately $999 million to cover the State’s share of salaries and benefits for school district authorized positions. School District personnel costs comprise 23% of the State’s budget. In March 2020, the Governor of the state of Delaware declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus continued throughout 2021, including closures of school districts. Because of the hurdles school districts faced in relation to teaching, remote learning, nutrition and emotional support to students, State Auditor McGuiness honored the requests of school districts to delay this engagement. This accommodation not only fulfilled the needs of school districts but ensured the integrity of the engagement. What Was Found? It is my pleasure to report Christina School District complied, in all material respects, with the criteria mentioned above. Christina School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 through 2019 can be found on our website. For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness at Kathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov.

The Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Public Safety section has released a report on the consistency and fairness of the processes by which discipline is recommended and reviewed by Chicago Police Department (CPD) members found to have committed misconduct. OIG concluded that the agencies charged with investigating CPD members and recommending discipline, as well as reviewing those recommendations, do not operate with sufficient guidance and controls to ensure procedural fairness and consistency.An allegation that a CPD member has committed misconduct is usually investigated by CPD’s Bureau of Internal Affairs (BIA) or the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). If BIA or COPA finds that a CPD member has committed misconduct, that investigating agency recommends a disciplinary penalty. This recommended discipline then proceeds through a review process, after which CPD issues any discipline to the accused Department member. Depending on the rank of the accused CPD member and the nature of the discipline, the Police Board may adjudicate the matter and review the investigating agency’s disciplinary recommendation.Among OIG’s findings are that:BIA and COPA’s policies do not contain clear and actionable guidance on how investigators should weigh aggravating and mitigating factors in reaching disciplinary recommendations;Updates to BIA and COPA’s policies may still be inadequate to ensure consistency and fairness across cases without an advisory tool; andThe Police Board does not have any formal policies to consistently and fairly determine discipline for the cases it considers.

What Was Performed? An examination of the Caesar Rodney School District’s compliance with the Authorized Position requirements set forth in the Delaware Code, Delaware Law (formerly, 149th General Assembly; Senate Bill No. 235 (SB235)), and the State of Delaware Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM). Why This Engagement? The State Auditor performed an examination to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 Authorized Positions were not exceeded by comparing the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a school district employed. In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Office of Auditor of Accounts is directed to examine the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of the regular, annual audit review for all public-school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991. During Fiscal Year 2019, the State budgeted approximately $999 million to cover the State’s share of salaries and benefits for school district authorized positions. School District personnel costs comprise 23% of the State’s budget. In March 2020, the Governor of the state of Delaware declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus continued throughout 2021, including closures of school districts. Because of the hurdles school districts faced in relation to teaching, remote learning, nutrition and emotional support to students, State Auditor McGuiness honored the requests of school districts to delay this engagement. This accommodation not only fulfilled the needs of school districts but ensured the integrity of the engagement. What Was Found? It is my pleasure to report Caesar Rodney School District complied, in all material respects, with the criteria mentioned above. Caesar Rodney School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 through 2019 can be found on our website: click here. For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness at Kathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov.

What Was Performed? An examination of the Brandywine School District’s compliance with the Authorized Position requirements set forth in the Delaware Code, Delaware Law (formerly, 149th General Assembly; Senate Bill No. 235 (SB235)), and the State of Delaware Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM). Why This Engagement? The State Auditor performed an examination to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 Authorized Positions were not exceeded by comparing the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a school district employed. In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Office of Auditor of Accounts is directed to examine the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of the regular, annual audit review for all public-school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991. During Fiscal Year 2019, the State budgeted approximately $999 million to cover the State’s share of salaries and benefits for school district authorized positions. School District personnel costs comprise 23% of the State’s budget. In March 2020, the Governor of the state of Delaware declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus continued throughout 2021, including closures of school districts. Because of the hurdles school districts faced in relation to teaching, remote learning, nutrition and emotional support to students, State Auditor McGuiness honored the requests of school districts to delay this engagement. This accommodation not only fulfilled the needs of school districts but ensured the integrity of the engagement. What Was Found? It is my pleasure to report Brandywine School District complied, in all material respects, with the criteria mentioned above. Brandywine School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 through 2019 can be found on our website. For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness at Kathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov.

What Was Performed? An examination of the Cape Henlopen School District’s compliance with the Authorized Position requirements set forth in the Delaware Code, Delaware Law (formerly, 149th General Assembly; Senate Bill No. 235 (SB235)), and the State of Delaware Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM).WhyThis Engagement? The State Auditor performed an examination to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 Authorized Positions were not exceeded by comparing the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a school district employed. In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Office of Auditor of Accounts is directed to examine the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of the regular, annual audit review for all public-school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991.During Fiscal Year 2019, the State budgeted approximately $999 million to cover the State’s share of salaries and benefits for school district authorized positions. School District personnel costs comprise 23% of the State’s budget. In March 2020, the Governor of the state of Delaware declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus continued throughout 2021, including closures of school districts. Because of the hurdles school districts faced in relation to teaching, remote learning, nutrition and emotional support to students, State Auditor McGuiness honored the requests of school districts to delay this engagement. This accommodation not only fulfilled the needs of school districts but ensured the integrity of the engagement.What Was Found? It is my pleasure to report Cape Henlopen School District complied, in all material respects, with the criteria mentioned above.Cape Henlopen School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 through 2019 can be found on our website: click here.For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness atKathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov

What Was Performed? An examination of the Appoquinimink School District’s compliance with the Authorized Position requirements set forth in the Delaware Code, Delaware Law (formerly, 149th General Assembly; Senate Bill No. 235 (SB235)), and the State of Delaware Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM). Why This Engagement? The State Auditor performed an examination to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 Authorized Positions were not exceeded by comparing the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a school district employed. In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Office of Auditor of Accounts is directed to examine the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of the regular, annual audit review for all public-school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991. During Fiscal Year 2019, the State budgeted approximately $999 million to cover the State’s share of salaries and benefits for school district authorized positions. School District personnel costs comprise 23% of the State’s budget. In March 2020, the Governor of the state of Delaware declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID-19. Precautionary measures to slow the spread of the virus continued throughout 2021, including closures of school districts. Because of the hurdles school districts faced in relation to teaching, remote learning, nutrition and emotional support to students, State Auditor McGuiness honored the requests of school districts to delay this engagement. This accommodation not only fulfilled the needs of school districts but ensured the integrity of the engagement. What Was Found? It is my pleasure to report Appoquinimink School District complied, in all material respects, with the criteria mentioned above. Appoquinimink School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 through 2019 can be found on our website. For any questions regarding the attached report, please contact State Auditor Kathleen K. McGuiness at Kathleen.Mcguiness@delaware.gov.