Auditor General Bill Holland says the Department of Central Management Services has been going around the usual process for procuring goods and services.
Even for routine purchases, like cell phone service, CMS was using procedures meant only for emergencies.
“The emergency purchase affidavits which were filed by the department for their purchases only met the definition of the emergency purchase due to the department’s inability to procure the contracts in a timely manner," Holland said.
The auditsays these co-called emergencies could have been avoided with better planning and foresight.
Holland says CMS also made significant errors in reporting its finances.
“When we pointed it out, I think the department was probably more embarrassed than anything, and happy to resolve those issues."
CMS agrees with the audit and says it’s working to improve.