[imc-st.louis] AUDIT of the City of St. Louis

[Fitzdon at aol.com]

Questions for State Auditor

The State Auditor has validated the petitions for an audit of the City of St. 
Louis.  We are delighted to report that there WILL be an audit.  We have the 
opportunity to meet with an attorney from the State Auditor's office prior to 
their beginning the audit.  We need your help to have specific questions to 
ask them.  The draft below is combined from suggestions of several people.  
Please look it over and get back with me [fitzdon at aol.com] by Friday September 28, 
especially if you have additional questions we should ask. 

1. We request an audit of sources and expenditures of all Departments, 
Divisions and Commissions of the City of St. Louis, all "County" offices (i.e., 
Sheriff, License Collector), the Police and Fire Departments and the airport.

2. We request an audit of sources and expenditures of all federal, state and 
other grants.

3. During September 2006, 30 people wrote letters to the City of St. Louis 
requesting financial information concerning the spending of lead poisoning 
prevention money.  No information was forthcoming from the City for the remainder 
of that year.  In January, 2007, the City provided limited data on funds from 
grants.  There was no information on spending according to money the City 
raises from its building tax.  

a. Therefore, we request that the State Auditor report on the total sources 
and expenditures of lead poisoning prevention money from federal, state and 
local funds.

b. We request a report accounting for the new construction building permit 
tax earmark for Lead Remediation passed by the voters during the Harmon 
administration.

c. We request that auditors advise us how to receive information on 
expenditures according to zip code, ward, census tract, block and neighborhood as well 
as the number of children under 6 years of age in every home which received 
lead poisoning prevention funds.  [Should we omit this if auditors cannot do 
it?]

d. We request that auditors advise us how to receive information on 
expenditures within each geographical division according to category of expense, 
including (a) scraping, repainting and other interim controls such as HEPA vacuums, 
(b) window replacement and other abatement efforts, (c) placement of families 
in lead safe homes, and (d) other.  [Should we omit this if auditors cannot do 
it?]

4. We request a complete report on all monies spent to assess and remediate 
lead in public schools, work completed removing lead from schools, and the 
amount of remediation remaining to make schools lead free.  The report should 
include the names of all public schools included in the project.  

5. Many citizens charge that HUD grant money should have been used to repair 
homes that were later blighted and taken from owners by eminent domain.  We 
request a report on all HUD grant funds that were designated for home repair, a 
specification of where the funds should have been spent, documentation of 
where the grant money was actually spent, and the number of homes blighted and 
seized by eminent domain in each ward.  

6. As the city's matching portion to a federal grant to fund a redevelopment 
project on the near south side, the city allocated funds to build a new 
recreation center on 12th Street behind Peabody School. We request a report on 
whether the center was built and how all grant money was spent.  

7. Citizens have made allegations that the City received block grants in 
order to make loans to businesses to create jobs for low income citizens but that 
few, if any such jobs have actually been created. We request three items:

   A. A detailed report on expenditures of all block grant money that went to 
businesses for the purpose of creating jobs. 

  B. The actual number of jobs created, income from those jobs, and how long 
people remained on the jobs.

  C. We request that this information be reported according to ward.

8. We request a report on all money which has been lost from material stolen 
from the Police Department, and, if the money stolen had been sufficient to 
finance a Civilian Oversight Board with elected civilian members for oversight 
of the Police Department.  We request that the report specify how much city 
money (a) goes towards legal expenses related to police abuse of citizens and (b) 
has been used in settlements of civil suits regarding police abuse.

9. We request a performance report on the funds collected by all "County 
Offices" of the City (i.e., Sheriff, License Collector) and what proportion of 
those funds have been deposited in the City's general revenue.  

10. We request a performance report on the money which should be spent in 
each ward ($200,000 for inspection and maintenance of neighborhoods) concerning 
how the money is spent and the quantity and quality of work done.  

11. We request a report on all City salaries which have increased by more 
than 20%, how the salary increases were justified, and how performance has been 
appraised to confirm that output has matched salary increases.  

12. We request a report on licenses which have not been renewed.  The report 
should specify the number of businesses which continue to operate without 
paying license fees.  

13. We request a report on the quantity of City money budgeted for the Board 
of Aldermen and an official opinion of whether the amount is sufficient for it 
to be an effective legislative body.  [Should we omit the second part of this 
if auditors cannot do it?] 

14. We request a report on whether criteria for all federal and grants are 
being met.  

15. We request a report on whether contracted work from grant money has been 
based on competitive bids.  

16. We request a report on whether contracted work from grant money went to 
the lowest responsible bidder and, if not, who received it.  

17. We request a forensic audit investigating the relationships between those 
receiving contracted work from grant money and City employees.  

18. We request a report on the proportion of contracted work from grant money 
that is being done by persons certified and licensed to do the work.  

19. We request a report on the frequency of confidential information being 
inappropriately shared with those who do contracted work from grant money.  
[Should we omit this if auditors cannot do it?] 

20. We request a report on whether money for the new stadium and Ballpark 
Village is being spent the way the City said it would be spent.  

21. We request a report on whether money for other areas is being spent the 
way the City said it would be spent.  

22. We request a report on the spending of building demolition funds 
according to wards, especially the total number of derelict buildings that are left 
standing in each ward.  [Should we omit this if auditors cannot do it?]

21. We request a report on the spending of the Street and Traffic Departments 
to replace traffic signs and repair traffic lights in each ward.  

22. We request an investigation of whether funds are available to purchase 
firefighting masks that would prevent the death of firefighters.

23. We request a report on how the City uses attendance and performance 
records to determine that employees are completing work assignments.

24. We request an report on the company which received a contract to provide 
medical services for those in the criminal justice system (jail and 
workhouse), including the process of awarding the contract, the process of reviewing the 
contract to determine if services are being provided adequately and the 
criteria for terminating the contract.  We further request a report on the race of 
those who have died and complained of inadequate medical treatment while in 
the criminal justice system.

25. We request a report on the net affect to taxpayers from tax abatements 
and Tax Incentive Financing and the amount of revenue affected by each according 
to ward and project. 

26. We request a report on the amount of federal and state funds and general 
revenue which is allocated to children and youth services/programs. 


Please forward this message to all city workers you know and tell them that 
they can provide information anonymously by calling 314-727-8554 [line 1] or 
emailing fitzdon at aol.com with the message "Audit of St. Louis City."





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