2018 Reno Audit Reveals Troubling Patterns Persist

There is a striking parallel between findings from a 2018 audit of Reno city officials and ongoing financial improprieties in 2024. The audit, conducted internally, exposed numerous infractions, including undocumented donations to nonprofits, inappropriate travel authorizations, and excessive travel spending.

The audit, conducted under the oversight of Internal City Auditor Emily Kidd, identified 49 instances of violations in purchase card expenditures. Several infractions going back to the tenure of former city manager Andrew Clinger. Kidd’s audit emphasized the necessity of adherence to city expenditure policies, stressing that misappropriation of funds could occur without proper documentation and approval.

Among the audit’s revelations were instances of elected city officials failing to complete travel forms or obtain approvals for travel-related expenses. Despite the audit’s findings and recommendations, these spending practices persisted, as evidenced by recent records.

Furthermore, the audit highlighted systemic issues within city departments, including a lack of documented internal controls and procedures.

Specific instances of non-compliant expenditures, such as purchases of tables at charity events without appropriate approvals and undocumented donations to purported nonprofits, were also noted in the audit. Additionally, funds spent on exercise equipment, approved by previous management, were deemed violations of city spending rules.

Mayor Hillary Schieve and City Council members were reportedly not fully briefed on the audit’s findings despite being implicated in violating city policies. Initially, the city refused to make the audit public, further exacerbating concerns over transparency and accountability.

In response to the audit, city officials pledged to enact changes to prevent unauthorized and excessive expenditures. Mayor Schieve attributed the spending irregularities to the previous city manager and expressed confidence in the new management’s commitment to compliance and policy implementation.

Assurances regarding improvement in spending practices and oversight agreed to show issues persist within Reno’s municipal governance. Efforts to address these issues include stricter purchasing procedures, enhanced training for staff, and improved reporting practices.