Audit Reports: 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993

1995 Reports

• Animal Control
• Department of Finance Taking Steps to Improve Internal Controls Over City-Wide Travel Expenditures
• Management Improvement at Freeway Park Garage
• Seattle Center Improving Procedures to Ensure Tenants are Reporting All Revenues and to Ensure Consistency of Contracts
• Eligibility for Public Defense Management Letter
• City-Wide Collection of Accounts Receivable
• Contracting for Court Services
• Making Effective Use of Managed Competition

Animal Control
20 November 1995
Our review of Animal Control included an evaluation of its internal controls and considered the unit’s workload and budget. We recommended that Animal Control implement a comprehensive financial control system, and reconsider the cost-effectiveness of two additional officers added in the 1994 budget. Animal Control could also benefit from a managed competition review in light of its decreasing workload and rising budget.

Department of Finance Taking Steps to Improve Internal Controls Over City-wide Travel Expenditures
24 October 1995
This report evaluated the City’s travel policies and practices to determine whether adequate controls were established to prevent unauthorized travel expense reimbursements, and to determine the role of the Department of Finance in monitoring travel practices. We also examined City departments’ authorization and payment of travel expenses to identify potential process improvements. We found that the Department of Finance could take additional steps to fulfill oversight responsibilities outlined in the Seattle Municipal Code, and should consider options for streamlining the authorization, accounting, and reporting of travel and training expenditures.

Management Improvement at Freeway Park Garage
24 October 1995
Our review of Freeway Park Garage management determined that the garage had not established adequate accountability systems. The Department of Administrative Services could design and implement a comprehensive management accountability system over the Freeway Park Garage’s cash-receipting process to ensure that cash receipts are properly recorded, and that cash is appropriately safeguarded and deposited. We recommended that the Department of Administrative Services increase its management oversight of the garage operations; revise its policies and procedures; and perform unannounced cash counts.

Seattle Center Improving Procedures to Ensure Tenants Are Reporting All Revenues and to Ensure Consistency of Contracts
05 October 1995
We conducted this review to evaluate Seattle Center’s oversight of Center House tenant rent payments. Our staff worked with personnel from Seattle Center to identify ways to improve procedures to ensure that tenants report all revenue and correctly calculate rents due. Seattle Center should also continue to standardize its contracts to increase consistency among tenant rental terms.

Eligibility for Public Defense Management Letter
21 August 1995
We analyzed the process for determining a defendant’s eligibility to receive public defense services. Our review of the eligibility determination process found that the King County Office of Public Defense used experienced screeners for initial eligibility screenings, but could improve the eligibility determination process by securing more comprehensive documentation for its initial screenings.

City-wide Collection of Accounts Receivable
May 17, 1995
This report evaluated the City’s collection of accounts receivable. We found that the City’s accounting and financial management systems generally did not provide sufficient information to effectively manage its accounts receivable. In addition, City departments did not consistently use interest or late fees to encourage timely payment. The Department of Finance could also provide more guidance to departments in the collection of accounts receivable.

Contracting for Court Services 
18 April, 1995
We reviewed the potential savings and benefits from merging the Seattle Municipal Court and the Seattle Division of the King County District Court. We found that potential savings would be dependent upon negotiated fees for court services. We recommended that the City also consider the full transition costs, as well as policy implications and other potential impacts.

Making Effective Use of Managed Competition
11 January, 1995
We evaluated the City’s use of managed competition to provide select City services, and determined that City departments could use managed competition more extensively. City departments only compared in-house and external costs for 23 of the 67 services we identified as suitable candidates for managed competition. The City could improve its managed competition program by: 1) establishing procedures to ensure a thorough analysis of relevant costs and benefits; 2) developing appropriate internal controls over the managed competition process; 3) considering legal requirements early in the process; 4) promoting awareness of non-financial issues; and 5) enhancing labor-management cooperation.