Police audit reveals vehicle hire costs decreases

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 04 October 2018, 12:00AM

A Ministry of Police audit report has revealed that vehicle hire expenditure has dropped over the last three years.

The Ministry’s audit report for 2015 showed that vehicle hire expenses totaled $95,183 tala for that financial year and was further reduced to $35,192 tala in 2016 and $24,000 tala last year. 

In 2014 an audit report on the Ministry’s finances recommended that steps be taken to minimise vehicle hire expenses, after it was found that expenses for that year alone totaled $95,183 tala with vehicle spare parts and maintenance also incurring a $66,000 tala bill.

“The Ministry should introduce steps to minimize the amount spent on hiring vehicles, and ensure all important details relating to the vehicles are recorded in the register, and emphasise more controls on the use of vehicles to minimise the cost of repairs and maintenance,” stated the audit report. 

It is not known if the reduction in vehicle hire expenditure between the 2015-2017 financial years is due to the Ministry acting on the recommendations of the 2014 audit report.

Other expenses highlighted in the Ministry’s audit report for the 2017 financial years including the spending of $40,000 tala on a dog shelter at Vaitele and $44,000 tala, which was allocated for the Office of the Prime Minister at the Fiame Mataafa Faumuina Mulinuu II (FMFM II) building. The Prime Minister is also the Minister of Police.

According to the audit report, a total of $23.3 million tala was appropriated in Government budgetary support to the Ministry of Police for the 2017 financial year. Out of this budgetary appropriation for 2017, a total of $21.3 million tala was allocated to Outputs provided by the Ministry with $1.96 million tala going to transactions on behalf of the State and $35,000 tala for cost recoveries. 

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 04 October 2018, 12:00AM
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