by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - The Office of Public Accountability has issued its 2012 annual report. The report provides an overview of the performance audits, procurement appeals, financial audits and other reports issues by the OPA in the last calendar year.

Both auditor- in-charge Jerrick Hernandez and Public Auditor Doris Flores Brooks say there's been a sea of change in the audit landscape over the years. "I think our audits are trying to identify areas where we can identify some new revenue ways to add to the already small bucket the general fund has," Hernandez said Brooks added, "Audits now have become a way of life and I think one area is I think of people and agencies are not viewing the audit not like 'I gotcha you', but how can we in-change, how can we improve our mission our goals, our responsibilities."

With a budget of $1.1 million in the last year, the OPA has issued nine performance audits inclusive of 25 audit recommendations and collectively identified $4.3 million in questioned costs and other financial impacts. The report also identifies several challenges including the recruitment and retention of OPA staff and improving compliance regarding financial audits.

To read the report, log on to GuamOPA.org.