City Council authorizes independent audits of the City’s contracting practices and technology uses – recommended by Mayor Lee to strengthen accountability and improve transparency
The Oakland City Council approved two major independent audits this week that fulfill one of Mayor Barbara Lee's key commitments to strengthen accountability, improve transparency, and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively.
The approved legislation authorizes an independent forensic audit of the City's contracting practices and a comprehensive independent technology audit of City operations. Together, these efforts represent one of the most significant reviews of critical areas of Oakland's internal operations and reinforce the Mayor's commitment to building a City government that is transparent, effective, and worthy of the public's trust.
Throughout her campaign and since taking office, Mayor Lee has made good governance a central priority – pledging to improve oversight of public spending, modernize City operations, and restore confidence in City Hall by ensuring government works effectively for Oakland residents. These audits follow Lee’s recent Good Governance Charter Reform measure that passed in June.
"Oaklanders deserve a government that is accountable, transparent, and focused on delivering results," said Mayor Barbara Lee. "I promised that we would take a hard look at how City Hall operates and ensure every public dollar is spent responsibly. These independent audits address some of the largest problems at City Hall and are an important step toward strengthening public trust, identifying opportunities to improve, and making sure our government is working as efficiently and effectively as possible.”
The first piece of legislation will launch a comprehensive independent audit of Oakland's technology systems. The assessment will establish a complete inventory of software and technology platforms, evaluate how systems interact across departments, and identify opportunities to modernize operations that have historically relied on disconnected or manual processes.
The technology audit will initially focus on two of the City's most critical operational functions – hiring and contracting. It will also assess other technology areas before producing a decision matrix that will help guide future technology investments and operational improvements.
The second piece of legislation will authorize an independent forensic audit of the City's contracting processes for capital improvement projects and Human Services Department contracts conducted by an outside forensic auditing firm. The review will examine every phase of the contracting process – from contract development and procurement through payment and closeout – to identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls, improve consistency, and enhance oversight of public funds. The audit will also evaluate financial compliance, transaction records, procurement practices, and organizational performance, ultimately providing City leadership with a roadmap to improve contracting procedures and implement best practices across departments.
"Strong organizations are willing to evaluate themselves honestly and continuously improve," said Interim City Administrator Betsy Lake. "These independent audits will provide valuable insight into where our systems are working well and where we can strengthen them. The findings will help us improve accountability, streamline operations, and better serve Oakland residents while ensuring we remain responsible stewards of public resources."
Since taking office, Mayor Barbara Lee has made strengthening public trust in government a priority. From advancing structural reforms to improving oversight of public spending and modernizing City operations, the Mayor has prioritized building a more effective and transparent City Hall. These independent audits continue that work and, alongside the Mayor's Good Governance Charter Reform measure approved by the City Council in June, reflect a broader effort to make Oakland government more transparent, accountable, and better equipped to serve residents.
Contact:
Sarah Henry: Director of Communications, Office of the Mayor
shenry@oaklandca.gov