New Investigation Report Published

Today, my Office released a report on the results of an investigation we launched following an anonymous complaint to the City Auditor's Whistleblower hotline. The complaint alleged that the City was excessively paying employees in the departments of Transportation (DOT) and Public Works (PW) for overtime work.

The investigation confirmed the complaint, revealing that between January 2018 and May 2024, the City overpaid DOT and PW employees a total of $1,667,650 in excess overtime pay. These overpayments were caused by long-established formulas coded within the City's payroll system that automatically calculated overtime pay in excess of Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines. When considering overtime pay outside of this timeframe and the two departments in question, the City's excessive pay for overtime work may be far greater.

I am hopeful the Administration will take our recommendations seriously and quickly develop, implement, and document overtime pay that aligns with authoritative regulations and agreements, as the City and taxpayers have been incurring substantial costs that were never approved.

I want to extend my gratitude to the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint prompted this investigation. Without this tip, we might not have become aware of such a costly issue for the City.

Read the Press Release here.

Read the Full Investigation Report

ICYMI: Recently Published Reports

Ready, Set, Vote: New Ballot Measure Analysis Published

The City Auditor’s roles and responsibilities extend beyond managing the Whistleblower Program and conducting audits. Our Office is also mandated to analyze specific ballot measures.

Click the link below to read our latest financial analysis of the Transactions and Use Tax Measure to be considered by Oakland voters as part of the April 15, 2025 Special Election.

Read the Full Analysis

New Report: Annual Whistleblower Report

We released our Annual Whistleblower Report on January 24, 2025. The report provides an overview of the whistleblower investigation process, the number and types of allegations submitted in Fiscal Year 2023-24, the characteristics of the whistleblowers, and the allegations warranting an investigation. It then concludes with a summary of the investigation outcomes and actions taken.

We are grateful to all the whistleblowers who trusted us and submitted their complaints and concerns.

Click the link below to read the report.

Read the Report

Community Outreach & Engagement: Upcoming Events

Happening Today!

SPUR In-person Forum: What It Will Take to Fix Oakland's Budget Deficit

Oakland is at a pivotal moment as city leaders work to address a significant budget shortfall of $129 million this year, with an additional $280 million projected over the next two years. Oakland’s leadership shuffle further complicates its challenges. While some deeply rooted structural issues underlie the city’s fiscal distress, Oakland is known for its creativity and resilience, and it has navigated bigger challenges before. Join us to learn about the City's budget process and hear from City leaders who are stabilizing the City during this time of transition. Explore how we got here and what it would take for Oakland to address its long standing structural deficit and move in the direction of fiscal sustainability.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

5:30 PM

Meet Your

Accountability Officers

Join the West Oakland Neighbors (WON) for a panel discussion with the City of Oakland’s

Office of the City Auditor,

Public Ethics Commission, and

Office of the Inspector General.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

6:00 PM

SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO OUR WHISTLEBLOWER PROGRAM

This confidential hotline is for employees and residents to report fraud, waste, and abuse in the City of Oakland. Available 24/7.

(888) 329-6390

Submit Online

We believe a strong and accountable government is essential for a thriving community, and we are honored to serve and work with you.

Sincerely,

Michael C. Houston, MPP, CIA

City Auditor

A career public servant, Michael C. Houston has been a government auditor and investigator for 17 years. He first worked as a performance auditor for the City of San Jose’s independent City Auditor’s Office from 2008 to 2017 and then as the Director of Compliance and Internal Control at California State University East Bay, where he directed the audit and investigation functions between 2017 and 2019.

Michael has worked in the Oakland City Auditor’s Office since 2019, initially serving as the Whistleblower Program Manager and then as the Assistant City Auditor. In a March 2024 Special Election, Michael was elected to complete the term of the previous City Auditor, who resigned on October 13, 2023.

Michael has a Master of Public Policy degree from U.C. Berkeley, a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Sonoma State University, and is a Certified Internal Auditor.

Visit www.oaklandauditor.com to learn more about Oakland's Office of the City Auditor.