h_lg_2016a_2016-01-12t13:31:00z0 Hearing Summary

Date: 01/12/2016

01:34 PM -- SMART Act Audits



Monica Bowers, Deputy State Auditor, explained that Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is a constitutionally created, independent government agency that was established to promote operational efficiency and to ensure accountability of government agencies.



01:36 PM -- SMART Act Performance Audit of the Department of Local Affairs & Department of Human Services Gaming Impact Grants



Jenny Page, Managing Legislative Auditor, discussed the SMART Act audit of the Gaming Impacts Grant Program (Attachment A). She identified gaming impacts, such as traffic enforcement in surrounding communities, and discussed the application process for Gaming Impact Grants. She also identified the audit report's findings and recommendations. In part, the audit determined that the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) has not ensured that its Local Government Limited Gaming Impact Program (Local Gaming Impact Program) awards grants to eligible entities or consistently uses program funds to address the impacts of gaming in Colorado, as statute requires. For example, in 2014, DOLA awarded $236,000 in Local Gaming Impact Program grants to two ineligible grant applicants that did not have the documented gaming impacts that statute requires. DOLA also awarded about $289,000 to three other applicants that used unsuitable methods to determine their gaming impacts.



(to see the entire report, select CTRL+Enter http://www.leg.state.co.us/OSA/coauditor1.nsf/All/4BF73634CC08F4C587257EA500689E46/$FILE/1419P%20Gaming%20Impact%20Grants,%20Performance%20Audit,%20%20August%202015.pdf



160112 Attach A SMART Act.pdf



01:45 PM



Irv Halter, Executive Director of DOLA, responded to questions from the committee about the SMART Act audit of the Gaming Impacts Grant Program. He also identified actions taken by the department to address the audit report's recommendations.



02:00 PM



Ms. Page responded to questions from the committee about the findings of the SMART Act audit of the Gaming Impacts Grant Program.





02:02 PM -- Status of Outstanding Audit Recommendations



Ms. Page identified the contents of the Outstanding Audit Recommendations Report that is prepared annually and lists outstanding audit recommendations for state agencies. She also identified audit recommendations for the Department of Local Affaires during the previous five years. The report notes that there are no outstanding audit recommendations for the Department of Local Affairs.