Item - 2024.AU7.1

The Audit Committee recommends:

1. City Council receive the Auditor General’s Office 2025 Work Plan and Budget Highlights for information.

Tara Anderson, Auditor General, and Ariane Chan, Assistant Auditor General, gave a presentation on the Auditor General’s Office 2025 Work Plan and Budget Highlights.

The purpose of this report is to provide City Council with the Auditor General’s 2025 Work Plan, which contains projects that are in progress or will begin in 2025, and many new projects on the horizon to commence in either late 2025 or 2026. These audit projects are identified through a City-wide risk and opportunities assessment process that is conducted every five years and updated annually for changes in emerging issues, priorities, and trends in allegations made to the Fraud and Waste Hotline. The Auditor General also considers the views and experience of City Councillors and City management. The Auditor General may amend the Annual Work Plan if new priorities arise.

This report also provides the 2025 Budget Highlights for information only, as the Audit Committee considers the Auditor General’s 2025 Work Plan. The Auditor General is requesting $8.651 million and this 2025 budget request will be presented directly to the Budget Committee at its meeting on January 15-17, 2025 for consideration. The Auditor General's budget request reflects resources needed to address her 2025 Work Plan.

The Auditor General would like to thank the Audit Committee and City Council for their continued support of this Accountability Office, and of the important work we do. We look forward to continuing to add value to the City, make a positive difference in the lives of Torontonians through improved outcomes from our report recommendations, while taking an approach that helps to build relationships with auditees and stakeholders in a respectful manner.