ANNAPOLIS, MD – Maryland’s legislative auditor is warning lawmakers about a troubling rise in repeat compliance failures among state agencies, saying too many departments are failing to correct long-standing problems flagged in previous audits.
A report presented Wednesday to the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee showed that more than one-third of the findings from this year’s Office of Legislative Audits (OLA) reviews were repeats from prior reports.
About 10 percent of those had appeared in at least two earlier audits, according to Christine Timanus, the agency’s deputy auditor.
Timanus told lawmakers that OLA had not recorded repeat rates this high since before 2010.
The office audits most state agencies every three to four years, focusing primarily on fiscal compliance.
Repeat problems outpacing progress
While the total number of audit findings has fallen in recent years, the share of repeated issues has grown—from 27 percent in 2022 and 2023 to 34 percent this year.
Legislative Auditor Brian Tanen called the trend “concerning,” pointing to staff shortages and inadequate oversight as major factors.
“We do think that vacancy rates may have contributed at least in part,” Tanen said, adding that agencies often fail to act on the recommendations provided.
“I don’t think it’s more auditing that’s necessary,” he said. “I think it’s more fixing that’s necessary.”
Agencies faulted for lack of follow-through
A September audit of the Social Services Administration found six repeat findings, including lapses in oversight of local departments, delayed investigations into abuse allegations, and failures to ensure children received medical and dental care.
Tanen said too many agencies are not implementing basic controls or corrective measures. “Whether it’s because of a lack of adequate IT or human resources… they’re just not doing it,” he told the committee.
At least 20 percent of this year’s findings were tied to delegated procurements—areas where departments failed to follow proper purchasing procedures, according to the auditor.
Call for accountability in procurement oversight
Tanen said oversight agencies such as the Departments of General Services and Budget and Management, and the Board of Public Works must do more to ensure procurements are conducted properly.
“When you delegate authority, sometimes you have to take the keys away from the child that’s not using the responsibilities properly,” Tanen said. “If an agency isn’t handling its duties, maybe it’s time to take that responsibility away and give it to someone who can.”
This was originally reported by Maryland Matters and comments and data used under the Creative Commons license.
Key Points
- One-third of this year’s audit findings were repeats from prior reviews, the highest level since before 2010
- Auditor Brian Tanen said agencies are failing to correct long-standing compliance problems
- Roughly 20% of current findings involve procurement oversight and accountability gaps
