San Diego improperly upped spending on contracts by $155M, audit finds

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, his predecessor Kevin Faulconer and city staff regularly increased spending limits for city contracts by amounts totaling millions of dollars without obtaining the required city council approval beforehand, a recent audit found.

The 50-page report released by City Auditor Andy Hanau last month found 42% of contract altercations amounting to $155 million in taxpayer funds over the five-year period between 2017 and 2023 had been brought to the city council in an untimely manner, retroactively or not at all.

The audit determined these improper approvals, which encompassed about 30% of all contract dollars, often stem from "incomplete and inaccurate contract information and unwritten policies" that have led to work inefficiencies and staff errors.

These issues, the audit said, stifles oversight and transparency while also opening up city contractors to risks like not getting paid for their services.