Summary

A matter coming to our attention relating to noncompliance with various guidelines for those operations audited is as follows:

Travel Expenditures

In general, Office of the Public Defender travel expenditures were limited to those necessarily incurred in the performance of a public purpose. However, in two instances, several employees were authorized to drive personal vehicles to conferences and received reimbursement for mileage while attending the same out-of-town conferences. It was not apparent from Office records that adequate consideration was given to the number of persons making the trip in determining the most economical method of travel for each trip. Had there been efforts to carpool, a savings of approximately $750 could have been realized. Office management indicated that it has developed plans to correct this for future conferences/seminars. (See paragraphs 18 through 21.)

The Public Defender’s written response to the audit findings and recommendations included in audit report No. 13265 is presented as Exhibit D.