State & Local Reports

The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) and the General Services Department (GSD) issue this Risk Advisory to alert all governmental entities, including school districts, throughout the State of New Mexico of risks related to the management and expenditure of CARES Act funds, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. The OSA advises reviewing CARES Act and ESSER requirements in conjunction with internal controls to aid in the proper use of the funds and prevention and detection of risks that may lead to waste, fraud, and abuse

We intended to report on DOH’s contact tracing process, primarily to filter through the varying, confusing, and often conflicting information and to provide a clearer, objective, and up-to-date understanding of the department’s efforts. However, instead of cooperation and assistance, we encountered barriers, delays, and ultimately were denied access to those responsible for leading the department’s contact tracing: the Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD) Chief and the Disease Investigation Branch (DIB) Chief, who recently took over that task

In this report, we specifically discuss DOE’s policies and procedures regarding department employees and students who are confirmed positive for COVID-19. We intended this report to provide clearer, consolidated, and current information about those policies and procedures

We intended to report on DOH’s contact tracing process, primarily to filter through the varying, confusing, and often conflicting information and to provide a clearer, objective, and up-to-date understanding of the department’s efforts. However, instead of cooperation and assistance, we encountered barriers, delays, and ultimately were denied access to those responsible for leading the department’s contact tracing: the Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD) Chief and the Disease Investigation Branch (DIB) Chief, who recently took over that task

DEC is responsible for re-purposing the Fort Devens military base into a residential, commercial, and recreational space. Our audit, which examined July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019, shows the Commission is meeting its commitments related to affordable housing and commuting options.

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an audit of the Department of Streets and Sanitation’s (DSS) weed-cutting program. DSS is responsible for mowing weeds that have grown higher than ten inches on the public way, as well as City-owned and private vacant land. DSS ward superintendents manage this process by visually surveying their wards, responding to complaints, and providing direction to contractors. According to DSS, weed cutting is important because “high weeds can conceal illegal activities, obscure dangerous debris, harbor rodents, and serve as a breeding ground for mosquitos.” In addition, overgrown weeds can “reduce real estate values and undermine safety and community improvement efforts.” Because the problem of overgrown weeds disproportionately impacts the West and South Sides of Chicago, DSS’ effectiveness in delivering this service substantially impacts efforts to combat blight in these neighborhoods.The objective of this audit was to determine if DSS meets its goals of mowing all City-owned vacant land at least four times during the growing season, which is May 1st through October 31st, and addressing all overgrown weed complaints within 42 days (six weeks).OIG concluded that DSS does not meet its goals for timely weed cutting. Because there is no reliable list of City-owned properties that require mowing, the Department cannot effectively manage City-owned vacant property. Moreover, DSS cannot accurately assess its performance in responding to weed-cutting complaints, because its data system is insufficient to ensure that important information is consistently and accurately captured.