Mission Statement

The mission of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is to promote the effectiveness and efficiency of programs and operations of County government and independent County agencies, prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in government activities, and propose ways to increase the legal, fiscal, and ethical accountability of County government and County-funded agencies.

Budget Overview

The total recommended FY21 Operating Budget for the Office of Inspector General is $2,011,845, an increase of $780,048 or 63.33 percent from the FY20 Approved Budget of $1,231,797. Personnel Costs comprise 93.26 percent of the budget for 13 full-time position(s) and no part-time position(s), and a total of 14.00 FTEs. Total FTEs may include seasonal or temporary positions and may also reflect workforce charged to or from other departments or funds. Operating Expenses account for the remaining 6.74 percent of the FY21 budget.

County Priority Outcomes

While this program area supports all eight of the County Result Areas, the following are emphasized:

• Thriving Youth and Families
• Effective, Sustainable Government
• A Growing Economy

Program Performance Measures

Performance measures for this department are included below (where applicable). The FY20 estimates reflect funding based on the FY20 approved budget. The FY21 and FY22 figures are performance targets based on the FY21 recommended budget and funding for comparable service levels in FY22.

Initiatives

• Add two new positions mid-year in FY21 and if needed, add three additional positions in late FY21 for Phase II of its expansion to implement Council Bill 11-19. The auditor positions allow the OIG to conduct a systematic risk-based rotating group by group review of the internal accounting and contracting processes and controls used by each department and principal office in the Executive Branch, as well as audit high-risk County contracts and agreements. Auditing the County's accounting and contracting processes on a recurring basis ensures that accounting/contracting programs are running effectively and efficiently.

Innovations and Productivity Improvements

• Develop and implement audit programs needed to conduct systematic risk-based rotating group by group review of the internal accounting and contracting processes and controls for Montgomery County Government departments.
• Identify, acquire, and implement case management systems; automate complaints processing, audit program management, and investigatory engagements.

• Develop a mechanism to track savings and improvements identified through OIG audits, investigations, and referrals, and a follow-up system for management to report on actual savings and improvements.

• Implement outreach programs to help educate County employees on how they can help the Office of the Inspector General to fight fraud, waste and abuse, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs and operations of the County government and independent County agencies.

Program Descriptions

  Inspector General

The Inspector General conducts independent audits, reviews, and investigations; receives and investigates credible complaints; reports possible violations of the law to law enforcement or another appropriate organization; notifies the County Council and County Executive of serious problems in programs; reviews legislation and regulations to strengthen controls and increase accountability; and...