State Auditor briefs Tacoma on 2023 accountability audit; payroll timekeeping issues flagged and 2024 single‑audit programs announced

Wendy Choi, assistant director of local audit for the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO), and audit leads Judy Lee and Jason Starr briefed the Government Performance Finance Committee and Audit Advisory Board on July 15 about the city’s fiscal‑year 2023 accountability audit exit conference and opened the 2024 federal single‑audit entrance conference.

Audit results for 2023 SAO auditors said they selected audit areas based on risk and concluded that, for the areas examined, the city “complied in all material respects” and maintained controls to safeguard public funds. The accountability audit covered a range of departments and processes, including payroll and timekeeping for Tacoma Public Utilities and Public Works, the municipal court’s enterprise justice conversion, procurement and cash‑receiving for Tacoma Rail, environmental services operations (wastewater, solid waste, surface water), public works contracts and deposits, IT controls, planning and development permit deposits, police seized‑funds tracking, and neighborhood and community‑services tax compliance.

Payroll timekeeping and reported…