The Ask the Auditor series has reached a celebratory milestone – 100 episodes!

Over the years, residents have asked us questions and we have answered.

Topics in our previous 99 episodes have spanned our audits, data-driven tools, wage enforcement, and everything in between. We’re grateful for e...

The City and County of Denver enters into thousands of contracts every year. Before any of them move forward, the Auditor reviews each one to help ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and in the public interest. This countersignature process, established by the Denver City Charter, is de...

Wage theft is a recurring problem in Denver. To address an issue that impacts tens of thousands of workers, Denver Labor has expanded its teams and outreach efforts. In this episode of Ask the Auditor, learn how Denver Labor is working to mitigate one of the most common labor violations in the co...

The Civil Wage Theft Ordinance, passed in 2023, expanded wage protections for all workers in the City and County of Denver. One of the tools included in the ordinance is known as "up-the-chain accountability,” which holds prime contractors accountable when a subcontractor fails to pay workers the...

Our Audit Services Division conducts performance audits, issues recommendations, and tracks whether city departments implement, do not implement, or partially implement those recommendations. In this episode of Ask the Auditor, we explain how the Denver Auditor’s Office follows up on audit recomm...

How do we decide what to audit each year? Our office takes a thoughtful approach, reviewing a variety of sources to identify the topics that represent the highest risks to Denver and matter most to our constituents. In this episode of Ask the Auditor, we will walk through how we build our list of...

When small businesses in Denver thrive, the whole city benefits. Our office supports this success by educating business owners and employees about wage laws, helping them comply with requirements, and ensuring workers are paid and classified correctly.

Watch the latest episode of Ask the Auditor...

Our office follows Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards while conducting fieldwork and reporting our findings. In this episode, you'll discover how we develop our findings and aim to create recommendations that are reasonable, feasible, and practical to implement.

Most of our audit findings and recommendations are public, but some information may need to remain confidential to protect the city from bad actors and ensure the safety of our city staff and constituents. In this new episode of "Ask the Auditor," we review the reasons why some of our audit work ...

Denver’s wage laws apply to all workers in Denver, including those using gig apps to find short-term job opportunities. However, some gig staffing apps often misclassify workers as independent contractors and violate their basic rights, including the right to receive minimum wage, full tips, paid...

We often hear from constituents who appreciate the dedication and time it takes to conduct a thorough audit. However, there are still some misconceptions—like the idea that fraud or waste can be uncovered instantly. In this episode of Ask the Auditor, we address common misunderstandings and expla...

In 2017, Auditor O'Brien launched the office's audit analytics and continuous auditing program. Since then, our Audit Analytics team has been able to assess entire datasets and thousands of pieces of information in a more efficient and reliable manner. Watch our latest episode of "Ask the Auditor...

Strip clubs, along with bars and restaurants, are industries with high risk of wage theft. In 2023, we started proactive investigations at strip clubs in Denver and recently we ordered Diamond Cabaret and Rick's Cabaret to pay $13,958,000 in restitution and penalties to more than 250 workers. Wat...

One of the largest construction projects at Denver International Airport is the Great Hall. In our original 2023 audit, we found risks involving project management and oversight of construction work. Our team recently followed up and found the airport fully implemented two of the three recommenda...

In 2024, Denver Labor helped more than 4,500 workers recover more than $2 million in unpaid wages. Our office also obtained subpoena power to get information from private employers who do not cooperate during wage theft investigations. Learn about how Denver Labor resolved underpayments and worke...

Inspired by community input, we recently audited how the Department of Housing Stability oversees a variety of Denver's shelters to support people experiencing homelessness. In this new episode of Ask the Auditor, we review how the department tracked taxpayers' dollars spent on shelters and how t...

Audit work is an excellent tool for ensuring the public’s limited resources are used efficiently, effectively, and equitably. Every year, our Audit Plan details the road ahead for the Auditor’s Office and the city departments and programs we have scheduled for auditing. Watch our next episode of ...