Auditor’s Office Issues First Follow-up of Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program Audit

The Washington County Auditor's Office performed its first review of the recommendation implementation of the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program (MSTIP) audit. The audit had two objectives. First, to identify the perceptions of the major risks for MSTIP in accomplishing its objectives. Second, to review the links between the MSTIP’s risks and issues and assess whether the major risks can be viewed as audit findings and potentially be mitigated.

Implementation status varied. Three of the nine recommendations are still open, awaiting the development of a MSTIP Program Guide. Three of the recommendations are in progress. The Auditors’ Office considers one recommendation to be not implemented. This status means County management's evidence did not sufficiently address the recommendation, and they have chosen not to implement or undertake any additional work to do so. The Auditor’s Office is not tracking the two recommendations County management disagreed with in the original audit.

County Auditor Kristine Adams-Wannberg said, “We appreciate the current work the Department of Land Use and Transportation is doing on improving project cost estimates, updating design standards, revisiting policies. We are looking forward LUT starting their program guide to give the program more clarity and direction.”

The Office will follow up on the status of the open and in-progress recommendations in a year.

Check out the follow-up review in the County Auditor’s reports.