1. Revitalization of the Long Beach City Auditor’s Office Presented to the Rotary Club of Long Beach August 9, 2006 Laura Doud, City Auditor, Long Beach

2. Overview  Who the City Auditor is  What the City Auditor Does  Our Approach – Transparency  “First 90 Days” – Revitalization Plan

3. History of the Auditor’s Office 10 th elected City Auditor in Long Beach in 98 years First elected City Auditor was Ira Hatch in 1908 The first woman City Auditor was Myrtelle Gunsel in 1919 –Myrtelle was the fifth elected City Auditor Myrtelle served for 32 years during a time of tremendous change

5. During Myrtelle’s Term Longest serving City Auditor – 32 years –First elected in 1919 First woman to run for office in Long Beach – before most women in the United States could vote Retired in 1951 after being elected 11 times

6. During Myrtelle’s Term Served at a time of tremendous change –Port of Long Beach was established –Oil was discovered on Signal Hill –$1 million per month building boom in Downtown Long Beach –Served during the Great Depression and the 1933 earthquake –Naval base construction at beginning of World War II –California State College, Long Beach was founded

7. What Does the City Auditor Do? History is instructive for the present City Auditor’s office The City Auditor’s office has the lowest budget of any citywide department - $2.7 million There are 22 budgeted staff positions for the City Auditor’s office

8. City Auditor Doud’s Approach Mission Statement The mission of the City Auditor’s office is to: Promote excellence in government Protect the public’s interests and assets Ensure that City resources are used efficiently and appropriately Provide stewardship and transparency in the use of City funds in order to improve the quality of, and confidence in, City decision making

9. City Charter Mandates The City Auditor shall: –Produce audited financial statements –Conduct operational reviews –Perform revenue compliance audits –Verify the cash in the City treasury –Oversee all payments to City vendors and contractors –Conduct fraud investigations –Audit payroll for all City employees $188 million for approx. 6,000 employees

10. City Auditor Doud’s Approach Transparency All audit information will be available to the public City Auditor website will be upgraded and will be made more user friendly Audits will be published on the website in a timely fashion City Auditor and key staff will attend neighborhood meetings and conduct community forums Communications will be a priority of this administration

11. First 90 Days Beyond the mandates of the City Charter First priority: Audit the City Auditor’s office –Utilize outside consultant to ensure an objective analysis free of political influence –Seek recommendations to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of the office –Inventory all audits of the past five years –Issue report to Mayor, City Council, and City residents

12. First 90 Days Actively participate in City budget process Analyze structural deficit reduction Identify and prioritize revenue compliance audits Reinvigorate and promote use of “fraud hotline” Revise citywide reimbursement policy Invite voluntary audits of City departments

13. First 90 Days Address Queen Mary Situation Monitor the progression of bankruptcy proceedings Audit and review all financial statements utilized in comprising the City’s claim Report bankruptcy findings to the public Actively participate in monitoring future rent payments and/or rent credits for new lessee

14. First 90 Days – Well Underway Significant Accomplishments to Date New staff and office structure –Created communications position Collected $50,000 on transient occupancy tax (TOT) audit Developed and presented City Auditor’s department budget Working with senior staff, wrote mission statement of office, goals, and objectives Started audit of the City Auditor’s office and revitalization of the fraud hotline

15. 91 st Day and Beyond “In” it for Long Beach Independence Information Initiative Innovation Integrity