State Auditing Proceeds With Attorney General's Office

  I spoke with Oklahoma's State Auditor & Inspector, this weekend. Mr. Gary Jones confirmed that his office is indeed proceeding with a legally-mandated audit of the Attorney General's Office.

  Gary Jones said; "The Attorney General may or may not spend department money on other audits, but my office is proceeding with our (mandated) audit". I asked if the two departments are cooperating? "Yes, the AG's office is cooperating."

   AG, Scott Pruitt, had objected a few months ago and instead insisted that he be able to hire his own auditor to provide him with an internal document which he would then decide whether or not to make public.
  In other audit news, the auditor's office is conducting audits of both the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. Of particular interest is the inmate funds which are turned over to the sheriff's office upon an inmate's "getting booked" into the jail facility. There are already some very serious discrepancies in the Tulsa fund and even more suspicions that the former sheriff's personnel have committed criminal theft and conspiracy of the property of jail inmates.

Gary's office has released this audit to the citizens of Tulsa County:

February 29, 2016

TO THE CITIZENS OF

TULSA COUNTY, OKLAHOMA

  Transmitted herewith is the Independent Auditor’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance with Government Auditing Standards of Tulsa County, Oklahoma for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. The audit was conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and Government Auditing Standards.

  A report of this type is critical in nature; however, we do not intend to imply that our audit failed to disclose commendable features in the present accounting and operating procedures of the County.

"The goal of the State Auditor and Inspector is to promote accountability and fiscal integrity in state and local government. Maintaining our independence as we provide this service to the taxpayers of Oklahoma is of utmost importance"- Gary Jones

  The goal of the State Auditor and Inspector is to promote accountability and fiscal integrity in state and local government. Maintaining our independence as we provide this service to the taxpayers of Oklahoma is of utmost importance. 

  We wish to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the assistance and cooperation extended to our office during our engagement.

Sincerely, 

GARY A. JONES, CPA, CFE - OKLAHOMA STATE AUDITOR & INSPECTOR

https://www.sai.ok.gov/Search%20Reports/database/TulsaCoRptIntCon15WebFinal.pdf

  And the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office has had numerous controversies lately. News9 reports:

  News 9 requested and received a copy of the 2015 fiscal year audit of Oklahoma County done by the State Auditor and Inspector's Office.
  It identifies certain deficiencies in internal control that they consider to be significant.
Their first finding has to do with inadequate internal controls at the Oklahoma County Sheriff's office regarding medical expenses incurred for inmates. The Board of County Commissioners approved to enter into a contract with “Inmate Medical Care” for those services.
  But the audit states throughout the fiscal year, the sheriff's office did not obtain purchase orders and did not follow state purchasing procedures. As a result, 11 invoices totaling more than $3 million were not submitted for payment and were not properly recorded.

 3/9/16 Related Story: District Attorney Requests Investigative Audit of Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office