Summary
Summary
| Report Number: | 2007-182 |
| Report Title: | Department of Management Services - Wireless Emergency Telephone System Fund - Operational Audit |
| Report Period: | 07/2005-06/2006 and Selected Actions Taken Through 02/2007 |
| Release Date: | 05/03/2007 |
Section 365.172, Florida Statutes, the Wireless Emergency Communications Act, provides for a Statewide emergency telephone system for wireless telephone users. Section 365.172(8)(a), Florida Statutes, authorizes wireless service providers (providers) to “collect a monthly fee imposed on each customer whose place of primary use is within this state. . . . The rate of the fee shall be 50 cents per month per each service number, beginning August 1, 1999.” The amounts collected are deposited in the Wireless Emergency Telephone System Fund (Fund) administered by the Department of Management Services[1] (DMS) and the Wireless 911 Board (Board).
Sections 11.45(2)(e) and 365.173(3), Florida Statutes, require the Auditor General to annually audit the Fund through the 2008-09 fiscal year. Our audit, covering the period July 2005 through June 2006 and selected actions taken through February 2007, disclosed the following:
Finding No. 1: DMS and the Board did not always comply with Florida Single Audit Act requirements.
Finding No. 2: The Board did not ensure that one rural county timely submitted a final grant report and the required expenditure documentation, contrary to Board procedures.
Finding No. 3: The Board did not always prepare minutes for Committee meetings and provide public notice of Board meetings, contrary to the provisions of law.
[1] Section 365.172, Florida Statutes, states that the State Technology Office (STO) is responsible for overseeing the administration of the E911 fee. However, effective July 1, 2005, the responsibilities of STO were assimilated by DMS.
The Secretary’s response is included in its entirety at the end of this report as Appendix A.