Oakland City Auditor Blasts Lax Oversight of City’s Workers’ Compensation Program

Fourteen Oakland city officials accepted more than $23,000 in inappropriate gifts from a vendor during two training sessions in 2007 and 2008, according to a recent audit of Oakland workers' compensation program by Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby. The audit also found the city's Risk Division spent nearly $10 million more than its contractual spending limits, mostly without receiving City Council approval. The audit faults Risk Division and prior administrations for not adequately managing a bank account to pay for administering the workers' compensation program.

• "Audit Slams Oakland's Workers' Compensation Program" (Artz, Oakland Tribune, 10/1).