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Audit Reports Affecting Multiple Agencies

An Audit of Performance Measures at 18 State Agencies

Report Number 95-055

Overall Conclusion:

Of the 164 performance measures examined at 18 state agencies:

  • 48.8 percent were found to be reliable.
  • Almost one-third of the measures were inaccurate.

Factors prevented us from determining whether the remaining 18.3 percent were correct or incorrect.

Key Facts And Findings:

The overall results represent a decline in reliability compared to the last two performance measure audits, where approximately 55 percent of the measures examined were found to be reliable. The School for the Deaf became only the second agency we have visited to have every measure examined classified as Certified. At several agencies, all of most of the measures examined were unreliable.

There were poor or inadequate control systems over the collections and reporting of performance data for almost 60 percent of the measures that were audited. Most often missing was some kind of monitoring or verification of performance information. A particular area of concern was the lack of controls over the input of information into centralized data bases from agency field offices.

Employees thought many of the agencies did not have a complete understanding of their agency's performance measures or how the measures affect the management and appropriations process. Without this knowledge, employees may not take the steps necessary to ensure the reliability of their performance information.

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