Burlington Housing Authority

This is a state performance audit of the Burlington Housing Authority covering July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012.

“I am pleased to provide this performance audit of the Burlington Housing Authority.”

Auditors looked at how the authority bought goods and services, including whether it followed procurement rules and had proper safeguards.

“The objectives of our audit were to review and analyze the Authority’s internal controls over its procurement of goods and services and to determine whether its procurement activities were efficient and in compliance with the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD’s) procurement guidelines and laws, rules, and regulations applicable to state-aided housing programs.”

Public housing authorities spend public money, so procurement needs to be fair, efficient, and legal.

“The objectives of our audit were to review and analyze the Authority’s internal controls related to its procurement of goods and services and to determine whether its procurement activities were efficient and in compliance with the Department of Housing and Community Development’s (DHCD’s) procurement guidelines and laws, rules, and regulations applicable to state-aided housing programs.”

If you live in or care about Burlington public housing, the report says the authority’s tested purchasing practices were properly controlled and followed the rules.

“The Authority, which is located at 15 Birchcrest Street, operates 103 one-bedroom units and 2 two-bedroom units of elderly and handicapped housing, as well as 2 three-bedroom family-housing units.”

The auditor concluded that Burlington Housing Authority’s tested purchasing controls and practices were adequate and compliant.

“Based on our audit, we have concluded that, for the period July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012, the Authority maintained adequate internal controls in the areas tested and was conducting its procurements in an efficient manner in compliance with DHCD guidelines and laws, rules, and regulations applicable to state-aided housing programs.”

The report does not list corrective actions or recommendations; it says auditors discussed the report with authority management.

“My audit staff discussed the contents of this report with management of the Authority.”

This is a clean audit result for the areas tested, meaning the state auditor did not report problems with the authority’s purchasing controls or compliance during the audit period.

“We believe that the evidence obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives.”

“Procurement” means the authority’s process for buying goods and services; “internal controls” means the safeguards meant to make sure that process works properly.

“The Authority’s records related to its procurement of goods and services during the audit period to determine whether its activities in this area complied with DHCD guidelines and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.”