Oro Valley council asks staff to scope program inventory and efficiency review as part of budget process

The Oro Valley Town Council directed staff to prepare a scope of work and timeline to identify the town’s programs, produce simple cost estimates and service‑level metrics, and outline possible efficiency opportunities in advance of the budget process.

Vice Mayor Barrett introduced the item as a follow‑up to earlier tax and budget conversations and said the first step should be an internal inventory of programs rather than immediately contracting an outside audit. "I feel like maybe we could... take a similar type of look at some of the other areas that we have in the government," he said, explaining that a program list would enable the council to compare costs and participation.

Council members discussed the potential value and cost of a third‑party operational audit. Town Manager Wilkins said an external audit could cost in the low five‑figure to six‑figure range depending on scope, while staff could prepare an internal list and benchmarking analysis during the budget process. The vice mayor revised his motion to ask staff to return with a proposed scope and timeline consistent with the discussion; the motion was seconded and passed on voice vote (ayes 6–0).

What happens next: staff will return with a proposed scope of work and timeline for delivering a program inventory and simple cost/service estimates as part of the budget process; council will consider whether and when to pursue an external audit.

Provenance: Regular agenda item discussion and final motion/vote.