Auditor's Office News

Coronavirus Relief Funding 

 (Report: July 2021 | Release)

• City auditor says Denver did a “good job” of managing $127 million in federal COVID relief - Denverite, July 20

Homeless Services 

(Follow-up Report: April 2019  | 2021 Audit Plan)

• Denver Swings for the Fences to Fight Homelessness, Add Housing - Westword, July 6, 2021
• Funding has rocketed for Denver’s homeless department - Fox 31, June 30, 2021

Neighborhood Sidewalk Repair Program

(Report: November 2020)

• Denver’s sidewalks need a lot of help: Where do we start? - Streetsblog Denver, July 15, 2021

Contractor Minimum Wage

(Release: July 2021)

• Aumento de salario mínimo para contratistas - Noticias Univisión Colorado, June 30, 2021

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Grant Follow-up

(Report: July 2021 | Press Release)

• Denver auditor criticizes police tracking of costly electronics - Colorado Politics, July 2, 2021
• Denver auditor criticizes police tracking of costly electronics - Denver Gazette, July 2, 2021

Denver County Jail Building 24 Buildout Contract

(Report: June 2021  | Press Release)

• Denver auditor: City should have accounted for jail expansion being over budget, over time - The Denver Post, July 5, 2021
• Auditor: City let jail construction project go millions over budget, years behind schedule - The Denver Gazette, June 17, 2021 
• Denver women’s jail buildout cost 30% more, took 3 years longer than planned - Fox 31, June 17, 2021
• Another Major Hancock contracting scandal - North Denver News, June 17, 2021
• Auditor: City let jail construction project go millions over budget, years behind schedule - The Denver Gazette, June 17, 2021

IT Disaster Recovery Follow-up

(Report: May 2021  | Press Release)

• Denver technology services agency lacks proper disaster recovery strategies, auditor says - The Denver Gazette, May 25, 2021

Denver Policing Reform

• Here are 112 ways the Denver Police Department can improve, according to community members - The Denver Channel, May 24, 2021

Records Management Audit

(Report: May 2021 | Press Release)

• Report Claims Denver Clerk & Recorder’s Office Not Taking Proper Safety Measures To Protect Personal Information In Move To Digital Record Keeping - CBS4 , May 20, 2021
• Denver auditor sounds alarm about redaction, other records procedures in clerk's office - Colorado Politics, June 10, 2021

Westin Hotel Revenue Follow-up Report

(Report: April 2021 | Press Release)

• Denver auditor criticizes DIA's Westin Hotel contract - The Denver Gazette, April 16, 2021
• Denver auditor criticizes DIA's Westin Hotel contract - Colorado Politics, April 16, 2021

Board of Ethics Audit

(Report: February 2020)

• Council committee OKs changes to Denver Ethics Code, rules for cabinet member approvals - Colorado Politics, April 6, 2021
• Council committee OKs changes to Denver Ethics Code, rules for cabinet member approvals - The Denver Gazette, April 6, 2021

Subpoena Ordinance

• Denver council grants auditor subpoena powers over business concerns - Denver Business Journal, May 11, 2021
• Denver auditor granted subpoena power by City Council - The Denver Gazette, May 10, 2021
• Denver auditor granted subpoena power by City Council - Colorado Politics, May 10, 2021
• Bills for common consumption, auditor subpoenas, Channel 7 landmark pass first vote - The Denver Gazette, May 3, 2021
• City Council committee approves giving Denver auditor subpoena power - Colorado Politics, April 20, 2021
• Denver business leaders slow proposal to give subpoena power to city auditor - Denver Business Journal, March 24, 2021

CARES Act Funding

• Billions in federal dollars start pouring into Colorado. Here’s how much your city will get - The Denver Post, May 10, 2021
• How Denver spent 2020 COVID relief funds - Axios Denver, March 9, 2021
• An accounting of Denver’s $127 million in federal COVID relief funding — and the challenges of keeping it straight - Denver Post, March 8, 2021

Compensation Setting Analysis

(Report: February 2021 | Release)

• Auditor: Denver must improve data availability to determine pay inequities – Colorado Politics, February 19, 2021
• Auditor: Denver must improve data availability to determine pay inequities – The Denver Gazette, February 18, 2021 

Denver Art Museum

 (Report: January 2021 | Release)

• Denver Art Museum sets fall 2021 opening for $150 million worth of renovations -The Denver Post, April 28, 2021
• Auditor Blasts Denver Art Museum and City for Not Reworking Contracts – Westword, January 22, 2021
• Who owns Denver Art Museum’s art? City audit says it’s unclear on some works – The Denver Post, January 28, 2021 

Contract Procurement Practices Follow-Up

 (Report: January 2021 | Release)

• Denver Mayor Hancock’s office still exposed to conflicts of interest, auditor says – The Denver Post, January 12, 2021

Denver Labor and Minimum Wage

(Release: January 1, 2021)

• Another minimum wage increase in Denver - Denver Post - January 7, 2021
• Denver’s minimum wage rate increases on Friday to $14.77 per hour - Denver Channel 7 - January 1, 2021
• Denver raises minimum wage to $14.77 - Fox 31 - January 1, 2021
• Denver’s Minimum Wage Increases To $14.77 Per Hour - CBS4 - January 1, 2021
• Denver aumenta el salario mínimo a 14,77 dólares - Telemundo, January 1, 2021

• Denver's minimum wage jumps to $14.77 - 9News - January 1, 2021

Airport Capital Assets

(Report: December 2020(PDF, 7MB))

• DIA has fallen behind on maintenance even as it’s poured billions of dollars into expansions - The Denver Post - January 15, 2021
• DIA is falling behind with maintenance, city audit finds - 9News - December 18, 2020
• Denver auditor finds DIA lacks plan, staff and money for airport upkeep - Colorado Politics - December 18, 2020
• Denver International Airport Audit Finds Trains, Escalators In Need Of Maintenance - CBS4 - December 17, 2020
• Airport Lacks Plan, Staff, and Funding for Maintenance and Repairs say Denver Auditor - North Denver News - December 17, 2020

Sidewalk Repair Program

(Report: November 2020(PDF, 8MB))

• Denver auditor: Sidewalk repair program is decades behind schedule, not designed for ADA compliance - Denver Channel - November 20, 2020
• Denver Auditor: Sidewalk Repair Program 50 Years Behind Schedule - CBS 4 - November 19, 2020
• Denver’s sidewalk repair program needs fixes, audit finds - Denver Post - November 19, 2020

November Follow-ups

(November Reports(PDF, 1MB))

• Follow-up audits show some improvements for Denver city agencies, but ‘continued risk’ remains - Colorado Politics - Nov. 12, 2020

Caring For Denver

(Report: October 2020(PDF, 2MB))

• As voters show support for ballot measure 2B in Denver, how will the money be spent? - 9News - Nov. 4, 2020
• Denver mayor OKs more money for program pairing police, mental health providers - Denver Post - October 17, 2020
• As budget tightens, Denver leaders count on tax increases for new programs - Denver Post - October 17, 2020
• Denver audit finds Caring for Denver Foundation has millions in unspent dollars - Colorado Politics - October 16, 2020

Prevailing Wage Determinations Audit

(Report: September 2020(PDF, 2MB))

• Denver Human Resources fails to address wage stagnation, appeals among contract workers, audit says - Colorado Politics - September 18, 2020

Data Centers

(Report: January 2019(PDF, 17MB) | Follow-up: September 2020(PDF, 1MB))

• Audit: Denver data centers still lacking protections - Colorado Politics - September 8, 2020

Worker’s Compensation

(Report: October 2018(PDF, 5MB) | Follow-up: September 2020(PDF, 1MB))

• Denver comp program failed to implement recommendations: Auditor - Business Insurance - September 9, 2020
• Auditor: Denver workers' comp program still not fully accounting for costs - The Gazette - September 8, 2020

Employment Services Cluster Grants

(Report: August 2020(PDF, 2MB))

• Denver auditor: City should remedy recordkeeping for federal workforce development grant - Colorado Politics - August 31, 2020

Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant

(Report: August 2020(PDF, 4MB))

• Denver auditor finds some reporting delays for federal law enforcement grants - Colorado Politics - August 28, 2020

Syringe Access and Sharps Disposal

(Report August 2020(PDF, 4MB))

• Report: Denver's syringe programs could benefit from more precise data, better oversight - Colorado Politics - August 21, 2020

Airport Security

(Report: September 2018(PDF, 2MB) | Follow-up: August 2020(PDF, 1MB))

• Auditor: DIA implemented most recommendations for employee badging, security - Colorado Politics - August 10, 2020

Minority/ Women and/ or Disadvantaged Business Program

(Report: June 2020(PDF, 2MB))

• Monitoring of disadvantaged business contracting a problem, Denver auditor finds - Colorado Politics - June 22, 2020

Library Financial Processes

(Report: June 2020(PDF, 3MB))

• Denver Public Library should strengthen financial oversight, audit finds - Colorado Politics - June 22, 2020

Safety and Security of City Facilities

(Report: June 2020(PDF, 3MB))

• Report: Denver isn’t making safety and security of city buildings a priority - Fox 31 - June 22, 2020
• Denver's response to facility security unclear, non-compliant, city auditor finds - Colorado Politics - June 23, 2020

City Real Estate Portfolio Practices

(Report: May 2020(PDF, 3MB))

• Denver auditor finds record keeping, communication deficiencies at city real estate office - Colorado Politics - May 27, 2020

Open Records

(Report: May 2020(PDF, 3MB))

• Denver Auditor finds city’s open records request process lacks transparency - Colorado Politics - June 5, 2020
• Auditor finds Denver's response to public records requests lacks accessibility - 9News - May 21, 2020
• “The city’s records are really the people of Denver’s records”: Auditor criticizes transparency on open records - Denver Post - May 21, 2020

Marijuana Taxation

(Report April 2020(PDF, 3MB))

• Does Easy Legal Cannabis Delivery Exist In Colorado? Yes, But It’s Almost Impossible To Find - CPR News - May 13, 2020
• Only 2 marijuana businesses license to deliver in state - Colorado Politics - May 14, 2020
• Denver Auditor Explains Why He Called Out CIty's Marijuana Tax Use - Westword - May 1, 2020
• Unlicensed Marijuana Delivery's Bold, Bizarre Existence in Denver - Westword - April 29, 2020
• Denver auditor finds litany of deficiencies in city's monitoring of marijuana businesses - Colorado Politics - April 16, 2020
• Denver Auditor’s Office Googles illegal marijuana deliveries, finds illegal marijuana deliveries - Denverite - April 16, 2020
• Report: Denver marijuana business audits 'ineffective' - Associated Press - April 17, 2019
• Denver Auditor says the city is inefficient when it comes to marijuana tax collection - Fox 31 - April 16, 2020

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Grant

(Report March 2020(PDF, 4MB))

• Auditor: Denver police should address record-keeping deficiencies in drug trafficking grant - Colorado Politics - March 19, 2020

Board of Ethics and Clerk and Recorder’s Office

 (Report: February 2020(PDF, 3MB)):

• "Denver official to face further disciplinary action after board ruled he used position for personal gain" - 9News - February 20, 2020

Denver Labor

• "Denver auditor changes wage-recovery procedures during pandemic" - Colorado Politics - April 1, 2020

Minimum Wage

• Record number of employees to receive backpay from MSU Denver - Met Media - November 2, 2020
• City contractor wages increase in Denver - Colorado Politics - July 1, 2020
• City of Denver contract workers get a minimum wage pay increase - KDVR - July 1, 2020
• Denver auditor to hold information session on minimum wage - Colorado Politics - February 25, 2020
• Denver auditor commences authority to investigate, fine minimum wage violators - Colorado Politics - January 2, 2020
• Colorado's Minimum Wage Increases To $12 Per Hour - CBS 4 - January 1, 2020
• Time for a pay raise: Denver's minimum wage increased on New Year's Day - FOX 31 - January 1, 2020 

Other News

• What 'Safer-at-Home' life means to Denver city officials - Colorado Politics - May 9, 2020
• Denver auditor to join in furlough 
• Denver auditor wins excellence award from national association - Colorado Politics - May 4, 2020
• Denver Auditor Plans Audit Of DIA's Great Hall Project - CBS4 - April 29, 2019
• Denver auditor finds Wastewater Management strengthened payment oversight - Colorado Politics - April 6, 2020 (Contractor Hiring Follow-up)
• Coronavirus in Colorado: Updates from March 18-19, 2020 - Denver Channel 7 - March 21, 2020
• Analytics Team helps Denver auditor track every tax dollar - Colorado Politics - January 17, 2020 (Continuous Auditing)

Denver Preschool Program

(Report October 2019 - Release)

• "Denver Preschool Program Saving Too Much, Spending Too Little, Auditor Says" - Westword - October 18, 2019

DIA Accounts Receivable

(Report September 2019 - Release)

• Denver auditor accuses DIA leaders of 'resisting' advice on audits, resulting in $1M loss - Denver Business Journal - September 19, 2019
• DIA Is Having A Hard Time In Ways Besides The Renovation Project, According To A New Audit - CPR - September 19, 2019

Property Tax Spending for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

(Report August 2019 - Release)

• "Rocky Mountain Human Services is clear of its old troubles, but transparency questions linger" - The Denver Post - August 15, 2019 (PDF)
• "Auditor: Denver Human Services failed to prove it spent tax dollars correctly" - Colorado Politics - August 16, 2019
• "City Audit Finds Maligned Service Provider for the Disabled Close to Reform" - Westword - August 16, 2019 (PDF)

Preserving Affordable Housing

(Report August 2019 - Release)

• "Denver agencies are at odds over how to manage affordable housing" - The Denver Channel - August 16, 2019

Minimum Wage Enforcement

(July 2019 - Release)

• Denver auditor rebrands wage theft enforcement after council vote - Colorado Politics - November 27, 2019
• Final Denver minimum wage proposal released - Colorado Politics - November 4, 2019
• Denver's minimum wage hike heads to final vote, but not without a few more changes - Colorado Politics - November 12, 2019
• Denver auditor to hold information session on minimum wage - Colorado Politics - February 25, 2020
• Denver auditor takes charge of enforcing new minimum wage requirements - Colorado Politics - July 1, 2019
• "Pay increases for city workers start by law today — and Denver’s auditor is watching - Denverite - July 1, 2019
• "Denver auditor takes charge of enforcing new minimum wage requirements" - Colorado Politics - July 1, 2019
• "Minimum wage enforcement begins for city employees and contractors" - FOX 31 - July 1, 2019 (PDF)

Contract Procurement Processes

(Report June 2019 - Release)

• "Auditor: Denver Must Do More to Disclose Conflicts of Interest With Contractors" - Colorado Public News - June 20, 2019
• "Denver auditor: City bidding practices lack safeguards against political favoritism" - Colorado Politics - June 21, 2019

Auditor Profile

• "Executive Voice: How Denver's auditor changed the office into a watchdog for the city" - Denver Business Journal - May 24, 2019
• "Surely you know what Denver’s auditor does. This explainer is just in case you don’t." - Denverite - April 4, 2019 (PDF)

Homeless Services

(Report Apr 18 - Release)

• "Denver purchasing Salvation Army homeless shelter for $10.5 million" - Colorado Politics - August 23, 2019
• "Denver's Newly Rebranded Department of Housing Stability in the Works" - Westword - August 6, 2019
• "Eleven Big Challenges Hancock Will Face in His Third Term" - Westword - June 10, 2019 (PDF)
• "Progress report on new Department of Housing and Homelessness" - 9News - June 12, 2019
• "Denver auditor calls homelessness programs fragmented, understaffed" - Colorado Politics - April 18, 2019
• "Auditor finds Denver homelessness strategy is “fragmented and understaffed”" - Denver Post - April 18, 2019
• "Denver announces a housing and homelessness department — kind of" - Denverite - April 18, 2019 (PDF)
• "Denver's approach to homelessness lacks strategic plan, audit finds" - 9News - April 18, 2019
• "City Audit Faults Denver’s “Fragmented” Approach to Homelessness" - Westword - April 19, 2019 (PDF)

Workday User Access Controls

(Report April 18 | Follow-up report)

•   Denver implemented policies to better control software access, auditor finds - Colorado Politics - June 5, 2020
• "Denver Auditor cites need for better oversight of software program for city personnel" - Colorado Politics - April 25, 2019

Jail Safety

(Report Mar 21 - Release)

• "Denver’s auditor isn’t happy with the way the Denver Sheriff Department is handling safety at its jails" - Denverite - Mar. 21, 2019 (PDF)
• “Auditor’s office: Safety approaches by the Denver Sheriff Department ‘fragmented and inconsistent‘” – 9News – Mar. 21, 2019
• “Auditor, Sheriff’s Department Disagree on Handcuffing Best Practices” – Westword – Mar. 22, 2019 (PDF)
• “Auditor found issues in Denver jails that could compromise safety” – The Denver Channel – Mar. 22, 2019

Westin Hotel Revenue

(Report Feb 21 - Release Feb 21 - Release July 8)

• "Lawyers propose contract revision in Denver auditor, DIA hotel dispute" - Colorado Politics - August 29, 2019
• "Denver Auditor Asks City To Sue DIA Airport Hotel Operator" - CPR - July 9, 2019
• "Denver auditor asks city to take action against airport Westin hotel for withholding records" - Denver Post - July 8, 2019
• “Westin hotel at DIA evaded Denver officials’ attempts to dig into its operations and finances, audit says” – Denver Post – Feb. 21, 2019 (Front page PDF, article PDF)
• “Denver Auditor: Marriott Stood In The Way Of DIA Hotel Financial Audit” – CPR – Feb. 21, 2019
• “Marriott International blocking requests for DIA hotel info, Denver auditor says” – Denver Business Journal – Feb. 21, 2019
• "Auditor's office: Marriott International blocking requests for DIA hotel info" - 9News - Feb. 21, 2019

Other News

• DIA finances and cannabis taxation among Denver's proposed audits for 2020 - 9News - October 22, 2019 (2020 Audit Plan)
• DIA advances $3.8M contracts for oil and gas well maintenance - Colorado Politics - October 17, 2019
• Should Denver’s auditor have to be a CPA? - Colorado Independent - September 5, 2019
• "Denver auditor wants holders of the title to be CPAs as well" - Colorado Politics - August 30, 2019
• "Turns out you don’t have to be a licensed accountant to audit Denver’s finances, but that might change" - Denverite - September 3, 2019
• "Friday Footnotes: CPA or Nothing; PwC Snitched?; When the Cloud Goes Down | 8.30.19" - Going Concern - August 30, 2019 (PDF)
• "Denver's ethics director asks for audit before upcoming retirement" - Colorado Politics - August 20, 2019
• "As Michael Henry retires, the longtime Denver ethics leader has some parting words for a government with gaps" - Denverite - August 19, 2019 (PDF)
• "Denver auditor faults 2 city agencies for not making changes as agreed" - Colorado Politics - July 18, 2019
• "Inauguration: City Celebrates "OneDenver," Dissenters Say Not Yet" - Westword - July  15, 2019 (PDF)
• "Denver's Mayor Hancock, new council members sworn in" - Colorado Politics - July 15, 2019
• "Watchdog says Mayor Hancock isn’t following through on recommendations" - North Denver News - June 24, 2019 (PDF)
• "Denver's Government Is Growing — Some Parts of It Faster Than Others" - Westword - April 30, 2019 (PDF)
• "Mike Licht, former Denver auditor and mayoral candidate, dies at 87" - Denver Post - March 29, 2019 (PDF)