L.A. audit shows city can't account for 45% of items purchased by taxpayer funds

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SandEagle

Lifer
Aug 4, 2007
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http://controller.lacity.org/stelle...ts/contributor_web_content/lacityp_009991.pdf


NE WS
LOS ANGELES CITY CONTROLLER
WENDY GREUEL
Los Angeles City Hall East
200 North Main Street, Room 300
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone (213) 978-7200
Facsimile (213) 978-7211
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ben Golombek
May 3rd, 2010 (213) 595-2650
CONTROLLER GREUEL RELEASES AUDIT SHOWING CITY CAN’T FIND 45% OF
ITEMS PURCHASED WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS
Hundreds of Other Items Purchased More Than a Year Ago, Sitting Unused
(Los Angeles) – City Controller Wendy Greuel released an audit today showing that
various City departments could not locate hundreds of items purchased with taxpayer
funds, and that hundreds of other items had been sitting unopened or unused for up to 7
years.
“With the City facing such a large budget deficit, it’s essential that any equipment that we
are able to purchase is easily located if needed and utilized immediately. It’s critical that
keep tight controls on the City’s scarce resources,” said City Controller Greuel.
“Unfortunately we found in this case that no one was minding the store.”
City Controller Greuel’s audit examined how the Department of Recreation and Parks
(RAP), Bureau of Sanitation (BOS), and the Information Technology Agency (ITA) track
equipment purchased with taxpayer funds. With the City facing a massive budget deficit,
it is critical that any equipment purchased in the past is utilized immediately and easily
located if needed. Overall, the audit found oversight of equipment location and use to be
severely lacking.
Some of the audit’s findings included:
· Of 254 items that we attempted to locate, 115 were not where they should have
been. While 56 items were ultimately found in the wrong location, 59 were
unable to be located at a cost of $938,000.
o Some of the items that were never found included a video recorder
purchased by ITA for almost $60,000.
· Departments are supposed to conduct a physical inventory of items every two
years to maintain accurate physical inventories of equipment. ITA and Sanitation
have not conducted a review in at least 5 years and Recreation and Parks has not
conducted a review of all items in at least 7 years.
· ITA and Recreation and Parks have 138 items that were purchased at least 1 year
ago, still in warehouses or staging areas. These items are worth $237,000, and
some were purchased over 7 years ago.
o Some of the items not placed into service included 9 microwaves, 1 deep
fryer and 2 television sets by the Recreation and Parks Department and
various computer equipment by ITA.
###

I wonder what type of procurement process they had in place? probably none at all. fire every single one of them.
 

cubeless

Diamond Member
Sep 17, 2001
4,295
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but that spending stimulated the economy and firing people would raise unemployment...
 

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
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Let me guess.
Those who are responsible for these items were not fired.

(Why are they spending 60k on a video recorder? Its not like they are producing an episode of 24.)
 

cubeless

Diamond Member
Sep 17, 2001
4,295
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81
Let me guess.
Those who are responsible for these items were not fired.

(Why are they spending 60k on a video recorder? Its not like they are producing an episode of 24.)

it was a govt contract buy...
 

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
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· Departments are supposed to conduct a physical inventory of items every two
years to maintain accurate physical inventories of equipment. ITA and Sanitation
have not conducted a review in at least 5 years and Recreation and Parks has not
conducted a review of all items in at least 7 years.
Holy shit. Every 2 years! How about every month!?
 

Binarycow

Golden Member
Jan 10, 2010
1,238
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And you wonder us conservatives want smaller government and less spending.

Sounds nice on paper, however, when "us" was in power "us" was as much as a spending whore as the other guy so IMHO as a pissed off taxpayer both sides need to STFU and watch their asses or they will have to find another career to practice their Lies this upcoming Nov.
 

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
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Sounds nice on paper, however, when "us" was in power "us" was as much as a spending whore as the other guy so IMHO as a pissed off taxpayer both sides need to STFU and watch their asses or they will have to find another career to practice their Lies this upcoming Nov.

When were conservatives in power in L.A.?
 
Dec 10, 2005
28,270
12,983
136
And you wonder us conservatives want smaller government and less spending.

Why does the article lead you to that conclusion? Why not demand better accountability for how funds are used? Demand more effective government instead of just ranting about "small government."
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
I bet most of it went into small pick ups for Pablo and Rico.

No seriously, I bet most of that money went into off-the-book paychecks for illegals over the past 60 years.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,543
33,196
136
$60K on a video recorder? Exactly which year in 1973 was it purchased? Is it missing or did a clerk not remove it from the inventory system when they surplussed it in 1981?

As for having inventory on hand, unused, what is the story? Did they buy too much or is it a matter of wise planning? Did the Sanitation Dept buy $150k worth the sewer valves so that one would be on hand when one failed in the field? The story sounds shocking but in a city the size of LA and with such shallow reporting who knows?
 

Patranus

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2007
9,280
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$60K on a video recorder? Exactly which year in 1973 was it purchased? Is it missing or did a clerk not remove it from the inventory system when they surplussed it in 1981?

As for having inventory on hand, unused, what is the story? Did they buy too much or is it a matter of wise planning? Did the Sanitation Dept buy $150k worth the sewer valves so that one would be on hand when one failed in the field? The story sounds shocking but in a city the size of LA and with such shallow reporting who knows?

The story is not so much that the city wasted money rather that the city cannot account for items bought.

Spending 60k on a video camera is one thing but spending 60k on a video camera they cannot find is completely different.

Here is an idea, a worker needs equipment and then they check it out. If they do not return it or damage it, they get charge for it. Is that common sense solution too much to ask for?
 

Kappo

Platinum Member
Aug 18, 2000
2,381
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Why does the article lead you to that conclusion? Why not demand better accountability for how funds are used? Demand more effective government instead of just ranting about "small government."

If they were effective, then the government would be smaller for what they want to do right now.

FYI : managing 100 people is easier than 1000.
 
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