Inspector General Delia Thomas told the Committee on Budget, Appropriations, and Finance Friday that she had 19 employees—11 auditors, one investigator, and seven administrative and support staff—but she needs more.
She testified that the “auditors and investigators are the core of our operations as they perform the assignments on the field.” She then noted that two of the three vacancies at her office were senior special investigators. Her goal goes beyond filling the vacancies; she wants to increase the staff to 25.
Even with that personnel shortfall, the Office is actively pursuing several investigations. The Office is a government watchdog meant to operate independently. It conducts audits of government departments, agencies, and functions to increase efficiency and, in some instances, to document white-collar wrongdoing.
The Office is currently engaged in several audits and inspection assignments. These include the Water and Power Authority, the Taxicab Commission, the East End Medical Center, the Government Employees Services Commission, the Department of Education, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Police Department.
Sen. Ray Fonseca asked for some specifics. He wanted to know if the inspectors had seen the Vitol contract. The Vitol project was projected to cost $87 million but ended up costing over $200 million. It has played a big part in WAPA’s present financial woes. He said he has repeatedly asked for the contract but has never seen it. Thomas said the contract was probably reviewed in one of her Office’s recent audits of WAPA.
Fonseca also asked if her office was looking into the WAPA project for advanced meter infrastructure. In 2013, WAPA was loaned $13 million to install new meters. Fonseca called the project a disaster. WAPA officials have told the Public Service Commission that thousands of the new meters have failed.
Thomas testified, “We are in the process of hiring a consultant to assist in the Water and Power Authority’s audits…. This consultant will assist us in addressing the Vitol propane contract and the $2 million offshore payment. In addition, the contractor will serve as a consultant to our lead auditors on other aspects of the assignment.”
The 2025 budget recommendation for the IG’s office is $2.9 million, which is $75,765 more than the 2024 budget, an increase of 2.7 percent.
The proposed funding level for personnel and related services is $2.4 million, 82 percent of the budget request. Supply costs are estimated at $101,938. Other services are estimated at $340,795 or 12 percent of the budget request. Utility services are estimated at $43,000, or 1.5 percent of the budget request.
Thomas concluded, “This budget will allow us to fund 21.5 positions as we work to continue growing the agency to the desired 25 filled positions to better address audits and investigations.”
Senators at Friday’s committee hearing included Donna Frett-Gregory, Novelle Francis, Marvin Blyden, Franklin Johnson, Fonseca, and Dwayne DeGraff.
