2027 Audit Plan Review

At a glance

What: The City Auditor's 2027 Audit Plan, reviewed at the City Council work session on July 13, 2026. The plan is built by entity and risk classification.
Where it stands: Information only; no vote.

Natalie Lovell covered mission, vision, office structure, the plan by entity, audit planning and classifications.
Henjum asked about the 15.5 employees in the office; Lovell said that is the staff allotted in the future resource plan. Henjum asked the cost of investigating a Fraud, Waste and Abuse Hotline tip; hours are tracked but a per-investigation cost is hard to set.
Rainey asked why the Airport audit hours rose (a change in the Airport's risk profile) and asked for a line-item cost per audit; Lovell has hourly breakdowns plus overhead.
Leinweber asked how other enterprises are audited; Lovell described audits, post audits, the risk model and rotations for enterprises other than Colorado Springs Utilities and the Airport. He said Council, not the Mayor, oversees the Auditor.
Donelson confirmed the Auditor is appointed by Council but autonomous in auditing, and reports facts. Henjum asked how the office is kept from being used for political ends; Lovell said investigating hotline reports is her job. The same session heard the Elected Official Audit Findings.

Item 7.A staff report; questions on staffing, Airport risk, cost per audit and independence.