County audit reveals asset inventory discrepancies in Parks Department databases

Milwaukee County's Committee on Audit has highlighted significant challenges in the management of park assets during a recent meeting. The audit revealed discrepancies across multiple asset management systems, including VFA, GIS, and Excel spreadsheets, which complicate the accurate tracking of over 40,000 park assets.

The audit team conducted a thorough review of various asset groups, including playgrounds and athletic courts, and found that many assets do not align across the databases. This inconsistency poses a hurdle for Parks Management, which often relies on multiple systems and inter-departmental assistance to compile capital budgets.

To address these issues, the committee made two key recommendations. First, it urged the Parks Department to conduct a comprehensive review of all asset databases to identify and rectify missing or duplicate entries. Second, the committee recommended the development of formal policies and procedures for regularly updating the asset inventory.

Additionally, the audit noted that while the Parks Department has improved its inspection practices for pools and playgrounds since 2009—achieving over 92% timely assessments—there is still a lack of formal policies governing these inspections. The committee emphasized the need for consistent record retention and timely data entry, suggesting that Parks collaborate with the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to establish shared procedures.

The findings underscore the importance of effective asset management in ensuring the safety and quality of Milwaukee County's parks, as well as the need for improved inter-departmental cooperation to maintain accurate and up-to-date records. Moving forward, the implementation of these recommendations could enhance operational efficiency and better serve the community's recreational needs.