Miami’s first independent inspector general handled 19 matters during the office’s opening months as it continues building staff and systems to oversee city government. Antonio Diaz, who was sworn in last November to lead the Office of the Inspector General, updated the city commission Sept. 24 on the office’s early oversight work and progress in establishing its operations. The office has filled 11 of its 25 anticipated positions and is working toward state accreditation by 2027. The office was created after nearly 80% of Miami voters approved a referendum in August 2024 to replace the city’s former Independent Auditor General with a more autonomous watchdog agency. Unlike its predecessor, the new office has subpoena power and broader authority to investigate city officials, employees, contractors and agencies, conduct audits and reviews, and oversee procurement and contracts. “The voters did not create another operating department; they created an independent oversight institution designed to detect and prevent fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, mismanagement and to protect the public’s interest,” Mr. Diaz told commissioners. During the office’s inaugural reporting period from November through June 30 it handled seven investigative matters, one audit and two reviews, declined five matters and referred four others to the appropriate authority, Mr. Diaz said. The office is also establishing the infrastructure it needs, developing 10 chapters of standard operating procedures, 111 control forms, 18 chapters of a training manual and 21 operational guides. It has also created a 2026-2030 strategic plan and a citizen’s guide to independent oversight. Mr. Diaz said the office’s permanent headquarters is nearing completion, with funding carried over from the former auditor general’s budget helping support the buildout. The office is also working to fully implement its case management systems and obtain access to restricted federal, state and county investigative databases. Financial independence is another priority as the office establishes a long-term funding structure. The ordinance creating the inspector general’s office also established an inspector general contract fee, which is intended to help support its operations. Mr. Diaz said the framework for implementing the fee is being developed with assistance from the city’s finance, legal and IT departments. Commissioner Damian Pardo, who requested the update for the commission’s Sept. 24 agenda, said the commission had committed to doubling the office’s initial $2 million allocation to $4 million, citing its combined audit and investigative responsibilities. Mr. Diaz said the funding would help sustain the office’s independence and support oversight that can identify overpayments, recover public funds, improve contracts and controls, and prevent improper expenditures. “So, where are we today? The foundation has been built and established. The next phase is about results,” Mr. Diaz said, outlining plans to complete investigations and audits, expand procurement and contract oversight, move into the permanent headquarters and launch a website, outreach program, social media presence and public complaint portal. The office is also working toward professional accreditation and peer-review readiness, with a goal of state accreditation next year, Mr. Diaz said, acknowledging that the process would be difficult. The inspector general’s office was a major initiative of the late Commissioner Manolo Reyes, whom Mr. Pardo recognized during the meeting for helping bring the measure before voters. Mr. Diaz said the office’s responsibility extends beyond investigating wrongdoing to preventing problems, improving government operations and protecting taxpayer resources. “My commitment to this commission, and more importantly to the people of Miami, is simple: the office will follow facts wherever they lead – not emotions, not public trends, not political agendas,” he said. “Facts, evidence, the law.” The post Miami’s first inspector general settles in with caseload appeared first on Miami Today. ...read more read less