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San Bernardino council unanimously directs staff to pursue forensic-style audit of city finances and operations
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Summary
Council members directed city staff to return with a plan, scope and timeline for a forensic audit or equivalent third-party review to examine financial controls and deferred projects; council approved the request unanimously and asked for details within roughly 60 days.
The San Bernardino City Council on May 16 unanimously directed city staff to pursue a forensic-style review of city finances and operations and to return with a proposed scope, vendor options and timeline.
Council members said they want a focused review to identify why certain projects have been deferred, where operational inefficiencies persist and whether controls and documentation have been followed. One council member said, “Necesitamos hacer una auditoría forense,” framing the request as a way to explore systemic gaps rather than to presume criminal activity.
Why it matters: Council members cited recurring concerns over deferred capital projects, unclear project funding sources and gaps in documentation and transparency. Several members referenced prior requests for a deep review and said the city needs a specific set of steps to implement such an audit.
Discussion and scope Members debated what “forensic” means in the municipal context. Mayor Tran (speaking as mayor) cautioned that forensic audits commonly connote criminal investigation; she said the council should be clear about whether it seeks a criminal probe or a thorough performance and compliance review. She told colleagues a forensic engagement can be very specific and resource-intensive.
Council members generally supported a third-party review and suggested a 60-day window for staff to present options. Staff and council discussed whether the scope should focus on specific departments (public works, CIP, procurement) or seek a broader organizational review of controls and reporting.
Vote and direction to staff The council voiced unanimous support and the motion to request a forensic-style audit (scope and vendor options to be returned to council) passed without recorded dissent. Staff were asked to propose a clear scope, a procurement path and an estimated timeline and cost for council consideration.
Next steps City staff will return with a recommended scope and procurement approach; council members asked for clarity on timeline (60 days was discussed) and for options that separate performance/compliance review from criminal investigation if necessary.
Ending note: The council’s request does not launch a criminal investigation; rather, members asked staff to bring back a path for a third-party review to identify operational and financial issues and next steps for remediation.
