Richmond, VA-Earlier today, the Office of the City Auditor (OCA) released findings from an internal audit of the City's fuel program. The program, managed by the Fleet Management Division in the Department of General Services, is responsible for fueling the City's fleet of vehicles and is a critical part of City operations.

The audit outlines several key areas of concern including insufficient tracking of fuel usage, insufficient program controls controlling card access, use, and PIN-management, and a lack of standardized processes and training.

"I'm thankful for the city auditor for this comprehensive audit shining a light on challenges with this program," said Mayor Danny Avula. "Our residents deserve transparency, efficiency, and accountability, and my job now is to own it and do the work with my team to put strong policies and practices in place to fix it. I'm committed to addressing the recommendations and strengthening our fuel management program so that this doesn't happen in the future."

The audit included nine recommendations for process improvement, all of which have been concurred by City leadership. These recommendations include, among others:

• The implementation of an updated fuel policy

• An evaluation of current tools to assess suitability

• Implementation of a data-driven oversight process for fuel management

• Development of a formal fuel training program

• Redesign of the PIN management process to improve accountability

"We have taken several steps already to address the concerns raised in today's report," said Director of General Services Gail Johnson. "My team is focused on tightening our oversight protocols, updating our policies, and rolling out improved training programs to ensure we are the best stewards we can be of the new fuel program. We welcome City Auditor Riad Ali's guidance as we work to build a fuel program that better serves our City."

The City will continue to provide regular updates on progress as reforms are implemented in the coming months. The full report can be found on the City Auditor's website, here.