City Equity Program and Practices Follow-Up

The Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation fully implemented two recommendations made in the original audit report. However, the office only partially implemented seven others and it has not taken steps to address the risks seven other recommendations had sought to resolve.

Remaining Risks

The recommendations the office did not fully implement present several lingering risks. Among them:

• The Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation did not conduct a needs assessment to ensure the office’s initiatives are meeting the needs of the city. Without this assessment, Social Equity and Innovation cannot ensure it is meeting the city’s most important equity concerns and that its initiatives align with the office’s goals and strategies.
• Social Equity and Innovation does not have formal performance metrics to monitor the success of its programs. While the office does have draft performance metrics in development and does track data on training completion, the lack of implementing and tracking formal performance metrics limits the office’s ability to ensure its programs are achieving its intended outcomes.
• The office has not documented a decision-making process or held meetings to consider whether the Office of Social Equity and Innovation should continue to be codified in Executive Order No. 146 or by other means, such as city ordinance. If Social Equity and Innovation’s role and responsibilities continues to exist only by executive order, it risks future mayors closing the office or substantially changing its mission.
• Social Equity and Innovation has not conducted a staffing analysis to determine whether the office has sufficient resources to participate in the budget equity process. Without sufficient staffing and resources, the office may not be able to address equity in the city’s budget as effectively as desired.

Auditor's Letter

February 6, 2025

In keeping with generally accepted government auditing standards and Auditor’s Office policy, as authorized by city ordinance, we have a responsibility to monitor and follow up on audit recommendations to ensure city agencies address audit findings through appropriate corrective action and to aid us in planning future audits.

In August 2022, we audited the City Equity Program and Practices and found risks involving an insufficiently detailed strategic plan, an unclear executive order, and no plans for clearly and consistently communicating with other city agencies. The Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation agreed to implement all 16 recommendations.

We recently followed up and found the office fully implemented two recommendations, partially implemented seven, and did not implement seven recommendations.

Although the Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation has made notable progress, it did not fully address all the risks associated with our original findings — some of which are significant to its intended purpose. Consequently, we may revisit these risk areas in future audits to ensure the city takes appropriate corrective action.

We appreciate the leaders and team members in the Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation who shared their time and knowledge with us throughout the audit and the follow-up process. Please contact me at 720-913-5000 with any questions.

Denver Auditor's Office


Timothy O'Brien, CPA

AUDITOR TIMOTHY O'BRIEN, CPA
Denver Auditor

Denver Auditor's Office

201 W. Colfax Ave. #705 Denver, CO 80202
Email: auditor@denvergov.org
Call: 720-913-5000
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