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OPA needs more auditors
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Posted on Jan 22 2009
[B]Haidee V. Eugenio[/B]
[I]Reporter[/I]
Public Auditor Michael Pai said yesterday his office, which has been understaffed, needs additional auditors.
The Office of the Public Auditor currently has only 18 employees, including eight auditors, four investigators, a legal counsel and investigator assigned to a local task force on government corruption, another legal counsel and three administrative staff.
“We’re shorthanded compared to the work that needs to be done,” Pai said, adding that funding is available to pay for the salaries of these positions under the proposed budget.
Under the fiscal year 2009 proposed budget now back on the governor’s desk, OPA is authorized to have up to 30 full time employees and a budget of over $2.57 million for personnel and operations.
Since the start of fiscal year 2009 on Oct. 1, OPA has received 35 to 40 complaints or requests for audits and investigations, according to Pai. This is on top of the requests and complaints received in prior months.
Moreover, OPA has six to seven ongoing audits, including that of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s procurement.
“We are going to match it [number of additional auditors needed] with the work needed to be done. We don’t want to ‘overhire’,” he added.
