A 15.5 percent increase in Richmond’s construction permit fees may have been unnecessary, and it has failed to produce the promised improvements in inspection services, according to the city auditor. Backed by 32 development professionals and then-Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, the City Council raised the fees in 2007 so the city could hire 10 inspectors and related staff to make the operation more efficient.

Embarrassing as many of the audits produced by Richmond Auditor Umesh Dalal have been, at least the city has had the courage to give them a full airing—until now. But recently the City Council’s office stopped issuing press releases about Dalal’s findings. Council president Kathy Graziano notes that other localities don’t air their laundry in public, either. Council chief of staff Daisy Weaver says doing so is “not necessary.“

The investigative work of Richmond City Auditor Umesh V. Dalal isn’t as newsworthy as it used to be—at least in the minds of city officials. The City Council’s office has stopped publicizing the release of auditor’s reports that routinely point out waste and inefficiencies, as well as potential savings, at City Hall. Officials said they’re mirroring the practices of other local governments—not downplaying the reports, which continue to be posted on the city’s Web site for anyone who happens to be checking.

Prosecutor says there’s no evidence of “criminal or corrupt” action in the nearly $1 million purchase of 40 Ford Crown Victorias in 2007 that violated procurement rules.

The Richmond Department of Public Utilities has not planned regular maintenance of its facilities or generated work orders for jobs requested, according to an auditor’s report released yesterday. The facilities maintenance division also “could be overspending up to $460,000” based on industry standards, the audit said. “These are serious operational deficiencies,“ City Auditor Umesh V. Dalal said in a 22-page report. “Without proper planning, resource needs may not be identified and appropriate preventative maintenance may not be performed in a timely manner. In the absence of labor records, it is impossible to evaluate the cost effectiveness of the task performed.“

This summer City Auditor Umesh Dalal, the most worthy candidate for an MVP-of-the-Decade award, found yet more muck in the Augean stables of city governance. The latest report faults the performance of the school system’s grant-making department, where weak internal controls have made possible theft, overpayments, and the awarding of contracts without proper bidding.

Crossroads Ford of Virginia sent a protest letter after the city had awarded the contract for 40 Crown Victorias. A city auditor and the dealer say proper competitive bidding procedures were not followed.

The theft of almost $15,000 from a grant-funded literacy program and the possible misappropriation of an additional $10,000 spent on bus passes were the key findings of an audit of the school system’s grants-management program, according to a preliminary report released yesterday by Richmond’s auditor. A former employee of the Richmond school system pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing the $15,000. She faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced Oct. 13.

Underlings don’t do oversight. Subordinates don’t supervise the boss. Giving Richmond’s mayor the power to appoint the city auditor is asking for trouble. It’d be a license to steal for hizzoner, who would pocket the one person more capable of keeping him honest than the City Coun cil. A commission charged with reviewing the Richmond City Charter has advanced a preliminary recommendation that the mayor hire the auditor “subject to the advice and consent of a majority of council.“

Some Richmond City Council members are thinking twice about sharing oversight of the city auditor in light of his revelation that the city violated purchasing rules on a nearly $1 million contract to buy police cars. The auditor currently serves at the pleasure of the council. But under draft recommendations of the Richmond City Charter Review Commission, he would be appointed by the mayor subject to the approval of the majority of council.

Well, you can’t say you weren’t warned. Early last year, Richmond Auditor Umesh Dalal wrote a scathing report saying that the city’s poor purchasing habits left it susceptible to fraud. Among his findings were that the city ignored its own bidding procedures and didn’t always shop for the best price. City officials tended to skirt requirements for competitive, sealed bids on purchases of more than $50,000. At least nine cases were uncovered in which no bids were sought for purchases exceeding that level.

Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael N. Herring said yesterday that his office will investigate whether any crime was committed as part of a nearly $1 million purchase of police cars that violated procurement rules. He said he could not discuss details and added that it probably would take several weeks to determine whether charges will be sought.

Richmond officials violated procurement rules when the city bought 40 police cars for nearly $1 million in 2007 without allowing vendors to compete for the business, according to a city auditor’s investigation.

A Richmond school employee was overpaid by about $2,000 based on records falsified by his supervisor, with whom he had a personal relationship and later married, according to a report released yesterday by the city auditor. In a letter dated Monday, the auditor, Umesh Dalal, told School Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon that his investigation found “a conflict of interest, falsification of records and abuse of [Richmond Public Schools’] resources.“

Richmond could save $411,500 per year if it consolidates its grass-cutting and other grounds maintenance, according to the city auditor. City Auditor Umesh Dalal released this week a report recommending that seasonal grounds work of the Richmond Public Schools and the city’s department of public utilities be consolidated under its department of public works. That department was found to have the largest and most efficient grounds-maintenance operation.