The Office of the Metro Auditor released an audit today that followed up on the 2007 audit, Natural Areas Program: Improved Transparency Recommended.
The purpose of this audit was to determine if Metro had implemented the eight recommendations. The objective of the previous audit was to determine if the Program had processes in place to ensure transparency and accountability. It addressed three underlying issues:
- whether decision-making was transparent
- if the Program was monitoring results
- whether the Natural Areas Program Performance Oversight Committee was structured to be effective.
The audit commends Program staff’s efforts in addressing the audit recommendations.
“Of the eight recommendations, seven have been implemented to the auditor’s satisfaction and the Program is working on the eighth,” Metro Auditor Suzanne Flynn said.
The Audit noted that the Program had developed performance measures that were complete, balanced and useful. The Program improved communication to the public and developed a strategy to capture lessons learned.
“As Metro acquires more and more acreage, costs for maintaining and restoring the property will increase.” Auditor Flynn said. “In response to the open recommendation, the Program has started to gather information to estimate these costs, but more work needs to be done.”
Copies of the audit may also be obtained by calling the Office of the Metro Auditor at 503-797-1892.