A routine state audit reports the Public Service Commission does not do a good job of licensing and overseeing in-state moving companies. The Atlanta Journal Constitution details a report from the state Audits and Accounts Department. It shows without good oversight, non-legitimate movers can entice customers with low prices, only to pry more money from them once furniture is on the trucks. The PSC is the state’s consumer watchdog agency for many industries. The AJC quotes Public Service Commission Commissioner Bobby Baker,Jr. saying they’re doing the best they can with available resources.
Showing posts with label state audit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label state audit. Show all posts
Monday, September 8, 2008
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Drought could soon affect state road construction
Georgia's drought could soon put the brakes on road construction across the state. David Spear with the state's Department of Transportation says delays could soon be on the horizon.
"It's approaching a level where you could see some real impact on projects..where they'll have to start delaying things. We're not there yet, but it's on the horizon. Our people are talking to the Governor's folks, and Natural Resources, and our contractors as well".
Road contractors need water for concrete mixing, dust control on projects, and erosion control--which is federally mandated.
"Ideally, from the contractor's perspective, we love when it doesn't rain because it means they can go out and get their work done. We've certainly had more than enough of a good thing in terms of absence of rain for a while. We'd all take a few shut-down construction days if it meant we were going to get some decent rain" said Spear.
The drought problem could add to some recent criticism the GDOT has received. A recent state audit said Georgia is well behind other states in getting road projects to completion.
"It's approaching a level where you could see some real impact on projects..where they'll have to start delaying things. We're not there yet, but it's on the horizon. Our people are talking to the Governor's folks, and Natural Resources, and our contractors as well".
Road contractors need water for concrete mixing, dust control on projects, and erosion control--which is federally mandated.
"Ideally, from the contractor's perspective, we love when it doesn't rain because it means they can go out and get their work done. We've certainly had more than enough of a good thing in terms of absence of rain for a while. We'd all take a few shut-down construction days if it meant we were going to get some decent rain" said Spear.
The drought problem could add to some recent criticism the GDOT has received. A recent state audit said Georgia is well behind other states in getting road projects to completion.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
State DOT responds to audit report
A new state audit says Georgia’s Department of Transportation needs to do a much better job in getting road projects off the planning table to construction.
The report was commissioned by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson. Among several issues, it points to Georgia taking 22 months longer on average than other states to get projects done.
State DOT spokesman David Spear agrees with the basics of the audit, but says the results are not as grave as they appear. He says the audit used a general survey of other states’ results from four years ago, compared to hard numbers in Georgia from this year.
Spear says the department needs to improve its operation, such as project delivery. Instead of separate contracts for a design and build phase, there could be one contract for both--thus saving potentially 18-24 months on the speed of a project.
However, Spear says a few important factors are out of the department's control.
"We can get better, we need to get better, we will get better...but at the end of the day it still comes back to federal regulations that have to be upheld, and you have a finite pot of money that doesn’t even begin to approach covering the needs that we have".
The state DOT is dealing with a major budget shortfall over the next 30 years. Lawmakers will tackle a host of transportation issues in the next General Assembly.
The report was commissioned by Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and House Speaker Glenn Richardson. Among several issues, it points to Georgia taking 22 months longer on average than other states to get projects done.
State DOT spokesman David Spear agrees with the basics of the audit, but says the results are not as grave as they appear. He says the audit used a general survey of other states’ results from four years ago, compared to hard numbers in Georgia from this year.
Spear says the department needs to improve its operation, such as project delivery. Instead of separate contracts for a design and build phase, there could be one contract for both--thus saving potentially 18-24 months on the speed of a project.
However, Spear says a few important factors are out of the department's control.
"We can get better, we need to get better, we will get better...but at the end of the day it still comes back to federal regulations that have to be upheld, and you have a finite pot of money that doesn’t even begin to approach covering the needs that we have".
The state DOT is dealing with a major budget shortfall over the next 30 years. Lawmakers will tackle a host of transportation issues in the next General Assembly.
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