Legislative Audit Committee authorizes audit of DOLA oversight of metropolitan districts

The Legislative Audit Committee voted May 27 to authorize an audit of the Department of Local Affairs’ oversight of Colorado metropolitan districts. The audit was requested by Senator Weissman and the Office of the State Auditor provided a scope memo identifying possible review areas, including whether DOLA implements statutory oversight responsibilities, how metro districts provide services and finance obligations, and examples from other states for governance and transparency improvements.

Senator Weissman said the requested audit is a periodic review of a part of state government last audited in 2006 and is intended to examine the state’s role in balancing local approval of service plans, taxation and resident protections. The Office of the State Auditor’s memo described potential audit work to test whether DOLA is implementing oversight responsibilities, whether local governments and DOLA provide sufficient assistance to newly formed districts, and how metro districts’ debt and service plans affect residents and taxing authorities.

The committee approved the audit on a unanimous roll call. The Office of the State Auditor will begin work on the audit and report a detailed scope and schedule to the committee as the work gets underway.