timothy o’brien
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THE PODIUM: Denver deserves transparency for marijuana money
Denver’s taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent, especially when the revenue comes from a newly legal product in a controversial industry. I recently released a follow-up report to our 2016 audit of the Office of Marijuana Policy. In the original audit, we called for greater transparency in how marijuana-related revenues…
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Social security numbers discovered unprotected in Denver’s 311 help line
Sensitive data collected on Denver residents through the city’s 311 help line was visible to unauthorized eyes, according to the Office of the Denver Auditor. An auditor from the office who had been looking into another matter discovered that unauthorized city employees had access to personally identifiable information, or PII, on residents who used the…
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Identity data held by Denver on citizens, employees found to be unprotected
Private, personal information such as full legal names, drivers license and Social Security numbers of thousands of citizens and current and former City and County of Denver employees were accessible to as many as 10,000 city workers, an audit by the city auditor found. No evidence of unintended, improper or illegal viewing or access was…
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More fire stations needed in NE Denver, audit finds
A lack of fire stations in the Northeast Denver fire district that caused slow response times, a staffing shortage and a growing population that led to an increase in calls for service for the Denver Fire Department were issues cited in a city audit report. Fire officials were aware of the slow response time issue…
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DIA audit finds airline revenue collection lacking
Denver International Airport is not ensuring prompt payments from airlines, promptly collecting delinquent airline payments and associated interest penalties or managing airline space changes, an audit report found. Denver City Auditor Timothy O’Brien‘s staff presented those and other findings and recommendations about DIA‘s airline agreement management practices and lack of controls to the independent audit…
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? Short-term rental rules, data-driven policing in 2017 audit plan
Denver’s enforcement of short-term rental rules and data-driven policing will be closely reviewed by Auditor Timothy O’Brien as some of the areas targeted in his 2017 audit plan. O’Brien recently submitted the plan to Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver City Council as required by city charter. The plan consists of integrated audits that incorporate performance,…
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? Prevailing wage changes overdue and welcomed
Updated 11/7/16 at 4:41 p.m. An ordinance that established a prevailing wage for City and County of Denver contractors has not seen any significant change in more than a half century, other than a process to exclude violators from doing city work projects, which has not banned a single company. That is likely to change.…
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Denver medical marijuana tax collection has improved; $1.1 million recovered through audits
The City and County of Denver is doing a better job of ensuring it is collecting medical marijuana-related sales and use tax revenue, the Independent Audit Committee was told Thursday. A follow up report to a 2014 audit of the city treasury department’s collection of marijuana revenue found all four recommendations in the audit had…