City of Sacramento
Budget and Audit Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2026-00560 3/10/2026
City Auditor’s Proposed Work Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/27 File ID: 2026-00560
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Review the potential audits and pass a Motion: 1) selecting audits to be included in the City Auditor’s Proposed Work Plan for Fiscal Year(FY) 2026/27; and 2) forwarding to the City Council for final approval.
Contact: Farishta Ahrary, City Auditor, (916) 808-7266, [email protected], Office of the City Auditor
Presenter: Farishta Ahrary, City Auditor, (916) 808-7266, [email protected], Office of the City Auditor
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-City Auditor’s Proposed Work Plan for FY2026/27
3-City Auditor's FY2023-FY2026 Completed Projects
4-City Auditor's Proposed Audits FY2026/27
5-Presentation
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The mission of the Office of the City Auditor is to provide a catalyst for improvements of municipal operations, promote credible, efficient, effective, fair, focused, transparent, and a fully accountable City Government. The Office of the City auditor conducts performance audits, research, analysis projects, and is responsible for managing the City’s Whistleblower Hotline. City Code Section 2.18.030 requires that the City Auditor submit an annual work plan to the City Council for approval. We are implementing an updated process in which the Budget and Audit Committee will review a list of potential audits and projects, deliberate, and select priority items to be included in the City Auditor’s proposed work plan for the upcoming fiscal year. The selected work plan will then be forwarded to the City Council for final approval.
The draft work plan included in this report contains projects that the City Council has previously directed the City Auditor to conduct, as well as charter-mandated audits that must be performed
File ID: 2026-00560 3/10/2026
annually. In addition, it includes a list of potential audits and projects for the Committee’s consideration in developing the final work plan for FY2026/27.
Policy Considerations: The City Auditor’s presentation of the annual work plan is consistent with the Mayor and City Council’s intent to have an independent audit, research, and analysis function for the City of Sacramento.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: None.
Sustainability: None.
Commission/Committee Action: None.
Rationale for Recommendation: This staff report provides the Budget and Audit Committee with an opportunity to approve the City Auditor’s annual work plan or to provide comments and feedback before it is presented to the City Council.
Financial Considerations: This report does not have any financial impact. Once the work plan is approved, the costs of the audits will be funded out of the Office of the City Auditor operating budget.
Council authority for any additional appropriation authority necessary to complete the workplan will be brought back to Council.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): None.
INSIDE
Our Mission
Performance Audit Plan
Cannabis Compliance Audit Plan
DOU Audit Plan
Research & Analysis Audit Plan
Whistleblower Investigations
Audit Selection Process
Auditor’s Authority
2026-27 PROPOSED
WORK PLAN
Office of the City Auditor
OUR MISSION
The Office of the City Auditor serves a critical role in advancing public accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across City operations. Our mission remains: To provide a catalyst for improvements of municipal operations and promote a credible, efficient, effective, equitable, fair, focused, transparent, and fully accountable City government.
As an independent office, we provide objective and reliable assessments of the City’s programs, services, and systems of internal control. Through performance audits, fiscal analyses, and nonaudit engagements, we evaluate compliance with applicable laws and regulations, assess operational efficiency and effectiveness, and identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls and risk management practices. Our work is designed not only to detect and deter fraud, waste, abuse, and inequities, but also to promote strategic decision-making and measurable improvements in service delivery.
Pursuant to City Code Section 2.18.030, the City Auditor is required to submit an Annual Work Plan to the City Council for approval. The Proposed Annual Work Plan for Fiscal Year 2026/27 includes audits previously approved by the City Council that are currently in progress or were not completed in the prior fiscal year, as well as capacity for new audit engagements to be selected for the upcoming year.
In conjunction with this proposed audit plan, we introduce a new process by including a comprehensive list of potential audit topics identified through our citywide risk assessment and stakeholder outreach process as an attachment to the accompanying staff report. The Budget and Audit Committee will review, discuss, and prioritize those proposed topics to determine which additional audits should be incorporated into the FY 2026/27 Work Plan. The plan is intentionally structured to allow flexibility to add the Committee’s selected audits prior to presentation to the full City Council for final approval.
I am pleased to present the Proposed Annual Work Plan for FY 2026/27 for the Committee’s consideration. My team and I look forward to working with the Budget and Audit Committee, the City Council, City departments, and the community to prioritize audits that will provide the greatest value, strengthen governance, and enhance public trust in City government.
Respectfully submitted,
Farishta Ahrary
City Auditor
FY2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA
PERFORMANCE AUDITS (4 FTE)
Audits in Progress
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA Fire
Department
Emergency Medical
Services
The objective of this audit will be to evaluate the quality of SFD’s emergency medical services delivery to the public and to identify opportunities for improvement. This will entail reviewing EMS processes at the levels of both 911 dispatch and health care delivery by City Paramedics and EMTs. In conducting this audit, we will evaluate internal controls, interview members of SFD relevant stakeholders,
participate in ambulance ride-alongs, observe dispatchers taking calls, review policies and government codes and
regulations, review patient survey results, research industry best practices, and assess response data. Anticipated
completion date is June 2026.
Police
Department
Evidence and
Property Division
The objective of this audit will be to determine whether SPD’s Evidence and Property Division operates in compliance with applicable policies and procedures, laws, and industry best practices. This audit will determine whether appropriate controls exist over property and evidence room inventory including intake, disposition, storage, preservation, and security. Anticipated completion date is April 2026.
Human
Resources
Complaint
Investigation and
Resolution Processes
The City’s complaint investigation and resolution process involves allegations of workplace discrimination, harassment, and employee wrongdoing. This audit will evaluate the City’s processes and procedures related to EEO complaint intake, investigation, and disposition. The objective of this audit will be to assess whether the City’s EEO complaint investigation processes are designed and operating to ensure compliance with applicable laws and policies, and that investigations are conducted timely, consistently, independently, and equitably, without re-evaluating the merits of individual cases. This audit was previously initiated and put on hold due to staffing changes in the Office of the City Auditor and re-initiated in February 2026.
Citywide Homeless Response
– Part 2
The City funds and operates a variety of homeless shelter models aimed at providing temporary shelter and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness. These include emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and
specialized facilities such as navigation centers and non- congregate shelter options. This audit analyzes and compares the various shelters using performance metrics to identify those that have been most successful in helping clients end their homelessness. Anticipated completion date is June 2026.
Planned Audits
PERFORMANCE AUDITS
Planned Audits
Citywide Pedestrian Safety The objective of this audit is to evaluate the effectiveness of the City’s pedestrian safety efforts in reducing pedestrian- related collisions and improving safety outcomes. The audit will begin with a risk assessment to identify high-risk corridors, vulnerable populations, collision trends,
operational gaps, and governance issues, and will refine its focus to the strategies, programs, and controls that present the greatest risk to achieving intended results. The review will assess enforcement, education, and operational
initiatives, as well as the Quick Build program’s project selection, deployment in high-risk areas, implementation, and outcome tracking to support continuous improvement.
Community
Development
Department
Code Compliance
Night Team
The objective of this audit will be to determine whether the Code Compliance Night Team effectively disperses crowds quickly after events to reduce the risk of late-night
incidents. The audit will aim to assess the adequacy of staffing levels, shift scheduling, and resource deployment of the Code Compliance Night Team, and determine whether
the team contributes to a reduction in late night incidents.
Department of
Information
Technology
City Radio Systems The objective of this audit is to evaluate the cost - effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the City’s legacy radio system by analyzing its total cost of ownership and comparing these costs with those of alternative
communication. Assess whether the aging radio
infrastructure effectively supports the operational and public safety needs of City departments and identify related risks.
Convention
and Cultural
Services
Department
Special Event
Permitting
The objective of this audit is to evaluate and seek
opportunities to improve the Special Event processes
including cost structure, permit approval workflow, resource constraints, and event requirements. Assess the City’s cost structure, staffing, and event application requirements.
Conduct benchmarking focusing on staffing, event space
availability, insurance requirements, and customer
resources. Review accuracy and completeness of
applications.
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA
PERFORMANCE AUDITS
Planned Audits, Continued
Citywide Proposed Audits The FY 2026/27 Work Plan includes dedicated capacity to initiate approximately three to four additional audits or Research and Analysis projects during the fiscal year. The specific projects to be undertaken will be selected from the list of proposed audit topics provided as a supplement to the draft work plan in the accompanying staff report. The Budget and Audit Committee will review and prioritize those proposed topics, and the selected audits will be
incorporated into the final Work Plan prior to presentation to the full City Council for approval. This reserved capacity allows the Office of the City Auditor to remain responsive to Council priorities, risk assessment results, and emerging issues while ensuring workload planning remains realistic and achievable.
Council
Requests
Council
Requests
In response to new Council requests for audits, analysis, or information, we will postpone or remove existing projects and present the amended Work Plan to City Council for
approval so we can respond to those requests in a timely manner.
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA
CANNABIS COMPLIANCE WORK (0.5 FTE)
Citywide Comparative
Cannabis Code
Analysis
To assess the alignment and duplication between state and City laws governing cannabis businesses, evaluating
regulatory overlap in code provisions, enforcement
mechanisms, and administrative activities. This audit will identify opportunities to streamline the City’s cannabis regulations while ensuring compliance with state law and maintaining effective oversight.
Citywide Audited CBOT
Amount for
Sacramento
Children’s Fund
In accordance with the Sacramento Children and Youth Health and Safety Act (Measure L), the City Auditor will annually publish an audited amount of Cannabis Business Operations Tax (CBOT) by January 15th.
Police
Department
Illegal Cannabis
Cultivation
Unlicensed and criminal cannabis activity continues to run rampant throughout the state. This audit will evaluate the City’s ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal cannabis grow
operations
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA Work in Progress
Planned Audits
Citywide Continuous
Monitoring
The Cannabis Auditor performs ongoing monitoring of
Cannabis Policymaking, Education, and Outreach; Cannabis Business Operation Tax; and Cannabis Code Enforcement
Activities.
DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES AUDITS (1 FTE)
Planned Audits
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA Physical Security
Series
The Department of Utilities operates over 200 facilities throughout the City, including two water treatment plants, a wastewater treatment plant, multiple reservoirs, numerous wells and sewer and drainage pumps (sumps), as well as various administrative and storage sites. Given the critical water, wastewater, and storm drainage infrastructure housed at many of these locations, ensuring robust physical security measures is essential to prevent unauthorized access (such as vandalism or theft) that could disrupt operations. This series of audits will assess the internal controls over physical security designed to protect these facilities and evaluate their effectiveness.
Audits in Progress
Energy Use The City of Sacramento aims to mitigate negative impacts such as greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, dependence on non -renewable resources, and over- or excessive use of natural resources. This audit will evaluate the feasibility of DOU operations moving to 100% electric. This will include a cost -benefit analysis of DOU’s solar power purchase agreements, evaluating use of solar shares, cost - benefit analysis of participating in SMUD’s automated demand response program, and review of the impacts of fleet electrification on department operations and emergency responses.
Storm Drainage
Fund Review
The City worked closely with the community, the Utilities Rate Advisory Commission, and the City Council to develop a new Storm Drainage Property Fee to support capital infrastructure and related operating costs. However, the fiscal stability of the Storm Drainage Fund remains in flux. This review will analyze the fiscal sustainability of the Storm Drainage Fund, including the new Storm Drainage Property Fee, and forecast future revenues based on various scenarios, including potential rate increases.
RESEARCH & ANALYSIS WORK PLAN (3 FTE)
Work in Progress
Citywide Audit of the
Transient
Occupancy Tax
This audit will assess the City’s administration of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) imposed on hotels, transient lodging operators, and short-term rentals. The review will evaluate whether controls over reporting, remittance, and reconciliation are adequate to ensure taxable occupancy is properly reported and the correct tax is collected. The audit will also benchmark the City’s TOT rate, related lodging assessments, and any statutory or policy restrictions against comparable jurisdictions to assess regional alignment, competitiveness, collection and reconciliation procedures, and associated fiscal and compliance risks.
Citywide Potential Cost
Savings and
Revenue Recovery
Audit Services
In March 2020, the Citywide Innovation and Efficiency
Assessment, Potential Strategies recommended third-party audits to potentially identify cost savings. In alignment with this recommendation, we have entered into a contingency contract with a vendor to conduct these and/or other audits to recover potential past taxes or any other monies or revenue owed to the City that were not properly attributed to the City or were not properly paid/collected and to determine potential future taxes and other monies owed to the City not previously counted. We intend the first service to be a Utility Cost Recovery Audit, which will examine the City’s electric, gas, propane, and
telecommunications (data, internet, land line, cell phones) account invoices for the purpose of securing refunds, credits and cost reductions resulting from discovery of charges or costs in excess of those permitted or allowed by applicable contracts, tariffs, statues, rules, regulations and/or from overcharges or billing errors.
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA Ad Hoc Projects
Citywide Business
Operations Tax
(Non-Cannabis)
City Code 3.08 requires all businesses that operate in the City or do business with the City pay a Business Operations Tax (BOT). The amount of the lax levied generally depends on the type of business and their gross receipts. However, non- cannabis BOT has not been updated since 1991. This project will evaluate the financial impact of a stagnate non -cannabis BOT, provide detailed benchmarking analysis, and consider equity factors in potential updates to non-cannabis BOT.
Council
Requests
Council
Requests
In response to new Council requests for analysis and
information, we will postpone or remove existing projects and present the amended Work Plan to City Council for approval so we can respond to those requests in a timely manner.
RESEARCH & ANALYSIS WORK PLAN
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA Recurring Reports
Citywide Sacramento
Children’s Fund -
Baseline Funding
Verification
(Annually)
City Charter section 120(e)(1)(c) requires that by January 15 th
of each year, the City Auditor verifies that the baseline funding amount for the Sacramento Children’s Fund was expended in the previous fiscal year. Per City Council direction, the City Auditor will provide a detailed analysis and description of all eligible youth expenditures in even numbered years while odd numbered years will only analyze eligible youth expenditures up to the baseline funding amount.
Citywide Biennial Community
Survey
(FY 2028)
Note: This item proposed as
a cut for budget balancing
strategies. If selected, this
project will not move forward.
This project may be used to prioritize community issues and services that respondents feel need the most improvement.
Repeating this survey biennially will allow the City to identify trends and gauge whether policy changes and priorities are improving residents’ quality of life and their opinions regarding various issues and City services.
Citywide Triennial Audit of
Employee Workforce
Diversity and Salary
Trends
(FY 2029)
This triennial review will assess the diversity of City of Sacramento employees as it compares to the diversity of City of Sacramento residents. The review will also analyze trends to identify potential equity concerns. We will continue to update the City of Sacramento Gender and Ethnic Diversity Dashboard annually.
Citywide Triennial Diversity
Review of
Employment
Applications, Hires,
and Separations
(FY 2027)
This triennial review will assess the diversity of City job applicants, hired employees (new hires, re-hires, and
promotions), and former employees as it compares to the diversity of City of Sacramento residents. The review will also analyze trends to identify potential equity concerns.
WHISTLEBLOWER INVESTIGATIVE AUDITS (ALL STAFF)
Citywide 200 Whistleblower Tips Based on historical trends, we anticipate receiving approximately 200 whistleblower tips in FY2026/27. This reflects an increase in the anticipated cases due to an uptick in the cases received over the last couple of years. We will report the results of these tips in our Semi -Annual Whistleblower Hotline Activity Reports.
Projected Whistleblower Tips
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA Whistleblower Tips in Progress (as of January 1, 2026)
Citywide 21 Whistleblower Tips Open whistleblower tips can include allegations unrelated to the City, allegations being processed for referral to other City departments for review, and allegations actively being
investigated by the City Auditor’s Office or City departments.
Historic Information (as of January 1, 2026)
AUDIT SELECTION PROCESS
The City Auditor’s Work Plan is developed on an annual basis; however, the City Council may add projects to the work plan during the year and the City Auditor may propose additional work should new risks emerge.
Audit topics are selected using a combination of quantitative and qualitative factors that come from a variety of sources. Areas of risk that may be assessed when evaluating risks related to a department or division include, but are not limited to:
Annual Budget
Number of Employees
Funding Sources
Age of Programs
Fiscal Sustainability
Customer Satisfaction
Regulatory Compliance
Significant Changes
Criticality
Emerging Areas of Risk
Input from elected officials, city management, the whistleblower hotline, and the public is also taken into account when developing the annual work plan.
AUDITOR’S AUTHORITY
The City Council appoints the City Auditor to promote efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable City government. The City Auditor reports directly to City Council and has full responsibility for the direction and management of the Office of the City Auditor. The City Auditor works closely with the City Council, Budget and Audit Committee, Charter Officers, Department Directors, and Division Managers when conducting audits and evaluating programs.
The City Auditor conducts audits in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) and provides City Council and the public with objective, timely, and accurate information about the City government. Findings and recommendations are designed to save tax dollars and improve City operations.
In November 2018, the Sacramento City Government Accountability and Efficiency Act (Measure K) was passed by voters. This established the City Auditor as a charter officer and combined the duties of the City Auditor and the Independent Budget Analyst. City Code 2.18 Office of the City Auditor outlines the office’s duties and establishes the City Auditor’s access to information.
FY 2026/27 Work Plan | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 PROJECTS ANITICIP A TING COMPLETION Completed Projects | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA Fiscal Year 2024/25 Audited Amount of Cannabis Business Operations TaxFiscal Year 2024/25 Baseline Funding Verification2026 National Community SurveyEmergency Medical ServicesEvidence and Property Division2025 Audit of Employee Workforce Diversity and Salary TrendsDepartment of Utilities Energy Use – Power Purchase Agreements and Solar SharesCity’s Homeless Response: Evaluation of Costs and Outcomes of Homeless SheltersFISCAL YEAR 2024-25 COMPLETED PROJECTSCity’s Homeless Response: City Motel ProgramPolice Department’s Military Equipment Use Policy and Inventory PracticesAnimal Care Services DivisionSacramento Ethics CommissionWastewater Fund ReviewWater Fund ReviewFiscal Year 2023/24 Audited Amount of Cannabis Business Operations TaxFiscal Year 2023/24 Baseline Funding Verification FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 COMPLETED PROJECTS
Completed Projects | Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA 2022 City Board, Committee, and Commission Diversity2023 National Community SurveyBaseline Funding Calculation for the Sacramento Children’s FundCity Employment Applications, Hires, and Separations Diversity: 2/1/21-1/31/24Evidence and Property Division: Sexual Assault KitsPreliminary Report on the City’s Homeless ResponseRevenues and Expenses Associated with the City’s COVID-19 Response: Report 5Utilities Department Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition SystemFISCAL YEAR 2022-23 COMPLETED PROJECTSCannabis Code Enforcement UnitCity’s Financial ConditionLanguage Access Gap Analysis, Survey Results, and Policy RecommendationsWide Open Walls and David Sobon Events FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 PROPOSED AUDITS
FY 2026/27 Proposed Audits| Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA To determine whether the City’s current homelessness response protocols are efficiently and effectively guiding interdepartmental coordination, appropriately evaluating response times and resource deployment, and operating in alignment with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) framework. The audit will focus on the City’s current established homelessness response protocols and coordination structure. The review will assess whether roles and responsibilities among key departments are clearly defined and consistently applied; whether the City has mechanisms to monitor, evaluate, and adjust response times and deployment decisions based on risk and service priorities; and whether incident coordination practices reflect core NIMS principles, including defined command structure, resource management, and documentation. The audit will examine system-level processes, performance tracking practices, and oversight mechanisms to determine whether protocols are functioning as intended.Homelessness Response Protocol and Coordination EffectivenessCitywideThis audit will assess whether the Police Department’s overtime policies and practices are aligned with applicable laws, labor agreements, City policies, and recognized best practices, and whether those policies are consistently followed. The audit will also evaluate the primary factors contributing to overtime costs and identify opportunities to reduce expenditures, including assessing the extent to which staffing vacancies and other operational factors have impacted overtime usage. The audit will include a review of overtime-related policies, procedures, and collective bargaining provisions; an evaluation of authorization, approval, and monitoring controls; and an analysis of overtime expenditures and trends over the past three fiscal years. The review may also include data analytics to identify concentrations or patterns in overtime usage that warrant management attention and benchmarking against selected comparable jurisdictions, where appropriate.Overtime PracticesPolice Department
FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 PROPOSED AUDITSThis audit will determine whether the City investigates code enforcement complaints in a timely manner and effectively resolves identified violations in accordance with applicable laws, City policies, and established service standards. The audit will review Code Enforcement activities over the most recent three years. We may analyze levels and assignments, complaint intake, case prioritization, inspection timeliness, documentation practices, enforcement actions, escalation procedures, and case resolution outcomes. The review could include an assessment of average response times, case duration, backlog trends, and compliance rates. We may also evaluate whether performance metrics are established and monitored, whether staffing and workload distribution support timely investigations, and whether internal controls and data systems provide reliable information for managing operations.Code Enforcement OperationsCommunity Development DepartmentThis assessment will determine whether the City of Sacramento has designed, implemented, and prioritized policies, street designs, land-use strategies, and capital investments that make Downtown Sacramento safe and walkable. Specifically, the audit will determine whether Downtown provides a meaningful reason to walk through sufficient residential density and mixed-use activity; whether pedestrian travel is physically safe based on crash data, vehicle speeds, and intersection design; whether the walking environment is comfortable and scaled to human activity; and whether the urban setting supports an engaging and active pedestrian experience. The audit could include analysis on pedestrian safety outcomes, including collision trends, speed management, crossing distances, and network design characteristics associated with reduced fatality risk; land-use mix and residential presence necessary to support daily walking trips; street design features such as lane widths, traffic calming, shade, sidewalk conditions, and ground-floor activation; and the City’s adopted prioritization schedules, cost, and feasibility of potential improvements. In evaluating cost and feasibility, the audit may examine whether lower-cost operational or striping changes could improve safety before major capital reconstruction is pursued, whether street capacity exceeds actual demand, and whether public investments are prioritized based on measurable safety impact, implementation complexity, and long-term economic benefit. The project could be conducted by an external firm with expertise in street design. If contracted out, funding would need to be identified and approved prior to initiating the engagement.
Walkability Assessment of Downtown SacramentoDepartment of Public Works FY 2026/27 Proposed Audits| Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 PROPOSED AUDITSThe objective of this audit is to assess whether the City’s tree inspection and trimming program is effectively and efficiently designed and operating to protect public safety and meet service-level expectations. The audit will evaluate whether service requests are prioritized and completed timely based on risk, whether the tree registry is complete and reliable, whether inspections and trimming occur within established cycles, whether work is scheduled for geographic efficiency, and whether staffing levels and skill mix are aligned with workload demand and backlog prevention. The audit will review the governance framework, policies, and performance metrics guiding the tree program and analyze work order and registry data to evaluate call response times, inspection and trimming cycle compliance, backlog aging, and geographic distribution of work. The review will assess the accuracy and completeness of the tree inventory, the effectiveness of work scheduling practices in minimizing travel time and maximizing crew output, and the alignment of staffing levels with workload demand, including vacancy rates, compensation competitiveness, overtime usage, equipment availability, fund constraints, and reliance on contractors. The audit may include benchmarking against comparable jurisdictions and limited field observation to evaluate operational practices.
Urban Forestry Operations and MaintenanceDepartment of Public Works The objectives of this audit are to obtain an independent assessment of the City’s financial management framework, budgeting practices, financial reporting processes, and internal controls. The review will evaluate fiscal governance, transparency, and accountability in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and City policies. The audit will also identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls, improve financial processes, and enhance overall operational effectiveness. This engagement would be conducted by an external firm with governmental financial and forensic expertise in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. The review is expected to assess the City’s financial governance structure, internal control environment, budget development practices, financial monitoring and reporting processes, and selected high-risk areas, with the goal of identifying areas for improvement, strengthening controls, enhancing transparency, and promoting efficient and effective financial management. A detailed scope of work, methodology, and deliverables will be defined through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Funding would need to be identified and approved prior to initiating the engagement.
External Review of Financial Management and Budgeting PracticesFinance Department FY 2026/27 Proposed Audits| Office of the City Auditor | Sacramento, CA City Auditor’s 2026-27 Work Plan DevelopmentBudget and Audit CommitteeFarishta Ahrary, City AuditorMarch 2026
AgendaAgendaFiscal Years 2023-2025 Completed ProjectsFiscal Year 2025-2026 Projects Anticipating CompletionFiscal Year 2025/26 Work Plan Projects Anticipating Initiation Prior to End of Fiscal YearProjects Rolled Over From Approved Fiscal Year 2025/26 Work PlanProposed Projects Submitted for Fiscal Year 2026/27 Work Plan Fiscal Year 2023 Completed Projects
Cannabis Code Enforcement Unit
City’s Financial Condition
Language Access Gap Analysis, Survey Results, and Policy Recommendations Wide Open Walls and David Sobon Events
Fiscal Year 2024 Completed Projects
2022 City Board, Committee, and Commission Diversity
2023 National Community Survey
Baseline Funding Calculation for the Sacramento Children’s Fund City Employment Applications, Hires, and Separations Diversity: 2/1/21-1/31/24 Evidence and Property Division: Sexual Assault Kits
Preliminary Report on the City’s Homeless Response
Revenues and Expenses Associated with the City’s COVID-19 Response: Report 5 Utilities Department Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System Fiscal Year 2025 Completed ProjectsCity’s Homeless Response: City Motel ProgramPolice Department’s Military Equipment Use Policy and Inventory PracticesAnimal Care Services DivisionSacramento Ethics CommissionWastewater Fund ReviewWater Fund ReviewFiscal Year 2023/24 Audited Amount of Cannabis Business operations TaxFiscal year 2023/24 Baseline Funding Verification Fiscal Year 2026 Projects Anticipating Completion
Fiscal Year 2024/25 Audited Amount of Cannabis Business Operations Tax Fiscal Year 2024/25 Baseline Funding Verification
2026 National Community Survey
Emergency Medical Services
Evidence and Property Division
2025 Audit of Employee Workforce Diversity and Salary Trends Department of Utilities Energy Use –Power Purchase Agreements and Solar Shares City’s Homeless Response: Evaluation of Costs and Outcomes of Homeless Shelters Projects in Progress
Audit of the City’s Transient Occupancy Tax
Audit of Complaint Investigation and Resolution Practices Storm Drainage Fund Review
Potential Cost Savings and Revenue Recovery Audit Services Fiscal Year 2025/26 Work Plan Projects Anticipating Initiation Prior to End of Fiscal Year Pedestrian Safety
Code Compliance Night Team
City Radio Systems
Comparative Cannabis Code Analysis
Recurring Projects for Fiscal Year 2026/27Audited CBOT Amount for Sacramento Children’s FundSacramento Children’s Fund –Baseline Funding VerificationTriennial Diversity Review of Employment Applications, Hires, and Separations Projects Rolled Over From Approved Fiscal Year 2025/26 Work PlanSpecial Event PermittingIllegal Cannabis CultivationDepartment of Utilities Energy Use – Fleet ElectrificationDepartment of Utilities Physical Security SeriesResearch and Analysis of the Business Operations Tax Proposed Projects Submitted for Fiscal Year 2026/27 Work Plan Homelessness Response Protocol and Coordination EffectivenessThe objective of this audit will be to determine whether the City’s current homelessness response protocols are efficiently and effectively guiding interdepartmental coordination, appropriately evaluating response times and resource deployment, and operating in alignment with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) framework. The audit will focus on the City’s current established homelessness response protocols and coordination structure. The review will assess whether roles and responsibilities among key departments are clearly defined and consistently applied; whether the City has mechanisms to monitor, evaluate, and adjust response times and deployment decisions based on risk and service priorities; and whether incident coordination practices reflect core NIMS principles, including defined command structure, resource management, and documentation. The audit will examine system-level processes, performance tracking practices, and oversight mechanisms to determine whether protocols are functioning as intended.
Police Department Overtime PracticesPolice Department Overtime PracticesThe objective of this audit will be to assess whether the Police Department’s overtime policies and practices are aligned with applicable laws, labor agreements, City policies, and recognized best practices, and whether those policies are consistently followed. The audit will also evaluate the primary factors contributing to overtime costs and identify opportunities to reduce expenditures, including assessing the extent to which staffing vacancies and other operational factors have impacted overtime usage. The audit will include a review of overtime-related policies, procedures, and collective bargaining provisions; an evaluation of authorization, approval, and monitoring controls; and an analysis of overtime expenditures and trends over the past three fiscal years. The review may also include data analytics to identify concentrations or patterns in overtime usage that warrant management attention and benchmarking against selected comparable jurisdictions, where appropriate.
Community Development Department’s Code Enforcement OperationsThe objective of this audit will be to determine whether the City investigates code enforcement complaints in a timely manner and effectively resolves identified violations in accordance with applicable laws, City policies, and established service standards. The audit will review Code Enforcement activities over the most recent three years. We will analyze complaint intake, case prioritization, inspection timeliness, documentation practices, enforcement actions, escalation procedures, and case resolution outcomes. The review could include an assessment of average response times, case duration, backlog trends, and compliance rates. We may also evaluate whether performance metrics are established and monitored, whether staffing and workload distribution support timely investigations, and whether internal controls and data systems provide reliable information for managing operations.
Walkability Assessment of Downtown SacramentoThis assessment will determine whether the City of Sacramento has designed, implemented, and prioritized policies, street designs, land-use strategies, and capital investments that make Downtown Sacramento safe and walkable. Specifically, the audit will determine whether Downtown provides a meaningful reason to walk through sufficient residential density and mixed-use activity; whether pedestrian travel is physically safe based on crash data, vehicle speeds, and intersection design; whether the walking environment is comfortable and scaled to human activity; and whether the urban setting supports an engaging and active pedestrian experience. The audit could include analysis on pedestrian safety outcomes, including collision trends, speed management, crossing distances, and network design characteristics associated with reduced fatality risk; land-use mix and residential presence necessary to support daily walking trips; street design features such as lane widths, traffic calming, shade, sidewalk conditions, and ground-floor activation; and the cost and feasibility of potential improvements. In evaluating cost and feasibility, the audit may examine whether lower-cost operational or striping changes could improve safety before major capital reconstruction is pursued, whether street capacity exceeds actual demand, and whether public investments are prioritized based on measurable safety impact, implementation complexity, and long-term economic benefit.
Department of Public Works’ Urban Forestry Operations and MaintenanceDepartment of Public Works’ Urban Forestry Operations and MaintenanceThe objective of this audit is to assess whether the City’s tree inspection and trimming program is effectively and efficiently designed and operating to protect public safety and meet service-level expectations. The audit will evaluate whether service requests are prioritized and completed timely based on risk, whether the tree registry is complete and reliable, whether inspections and trimming occur within established cycles, whether work is scheduled for geographic efficiency, and whether staffing levels and skill mix are aligned with workload demand and backlog prevention. The audit will review the governance framework, policies, and performance metrics guiding the tree program and analyze work order and registry data to evaluate call response times, inspection and trimming cycle compliance, backlog aging, and geographic distribution of work. The review will assess the accuracy and completeness of the tree inventory, the effectiveness of work scheduling practices in minimizing travel time and maximizing crew output, and the alignment of staffing levels with workload demand, including vacancy rates, overtime usage, and reliance on contractors. The audit may include benchmarking against comparable jurisdictions and limited field observation to evaluate operational practices.
External Review of Financial Management and Budgeting PracticesThe objectives of this audit are to obtain an independent assessment of the City’s financial management framework, budgeting practices, financial reporting processes, and internal controls. The review will evaluate fiscal governance, transparency, and accountability in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and City policies. The audit will also identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls, improve financial processes, and enhance overall operational effectiveness.This engagement would be conducted by an external firm with governmental financial and forensic expertise in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. The review is expected to assess the City’s financial governance structure, internal control environment, budget development practices, financial monitoring and reporting processes, and selected high-risk areas, with the goal of identifying areas for improvement, strengthening controls, enhancing transparency, and promoting efficient and effective financial management. A detailed scope of work, methodology, and deliverables will be defined through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. Funding would need to be identified and approved prior to initiating the engagement.
Summary of Proposed ProjectsHomelessness Response Protocol and Coordination EffectivenessPolice Department Overtime PracticesCommunity Development Department’s Code Enforcement OperationsWalkability Assessment of Downtown SacramentoDepartment of Public Works’ Urban Forestry Operations and MaintenanceAnalysis of the City’s Budgeting Practices Thank YouFarishta AhraryCity AuditorOffice of the City [email protected]