Springfield internal audit outlines 10 audits for FY25 and asks for modest data-mining license

Springfield’s Office of Internal Audit described its mission and work plan at the budget hearing, noting it is the only city-based internal audit department in the state. The director said the office expects to complete 10 audits in FY25, including reviews of parks and recreation, a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes review, the Springfield Public Schools lunch contract, the First Student transportation contract, and cybersecurity work at school libraries.

The office reported it maintains the city’s fraud hotline, provides consulting services to management and helps allocate external audit costs to federal grant programs when appropriate. The office said its FY26 budget is a level-service budget that funds three full-time employees and that the OTPS line primarily covers external audit fees that are required under federal regulations.

The audit director requested a modest "wish list" item: an additional data-mining software license estimated at roughly $2,000 to help auditors review large datasets more efficiently. The director said a 3% cut to OTPS would reduce some audit staffing hours but that the office could continue core functions.

Councilors praised the office’s role identifying cost savings and inefficiencies in major contracts, including previous reviews of student activities and transportation that led to recommendations for operational improvements.

No formal actions were taken during the hearing; the audit director said the formal FY26 audit plan will be presented next month and the office will continue to coordinate with external auditors on federal grant compliance.