| Public Release Date: April 12, 1996 | No. 96-15 |
The Department of Public Safety's principal responsibility is to maintain a safe environment for the citizens of Minnesota. To do this, the department administers and enforces laws relating to drivers, vehicles, traffic, liquor sales, drug abuse prevention, gambling, natural and man-made disasters, criminal activities, and fire risks. The Department of Public Safety's revenues, as shown on the Statewide Accounting System for fiscal year 1995, totaled $852 million. Deputy registrars (170 statewide offices) collected approximately 88 percent of these receipts. Michael Jordan is the current commissioner of the department.
The audit focused on selected programs administered by the Department of Public Safety for the year ended June 30, 1995. Our audit scope was limited to those areas material to the state of Minnesota's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 1995. The areas audited included the motor vehicle excise tax system ($347.5 million) and the license fee revenue system ($416.2 million).
We concluded that the Department of Public Safety's excise tax and license fee revenues are presented fairly on the state of Minnesota's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for fiscal year 1995. We also concluded that the Department of Public Safety complied with material state laws and regulations related to these revenue systems.
We found the internal controls over these revenues are generally adequate; however, the department needs to make some improvements in its computer access controls for the Motor Vehicle System. In addition, we found that some improvements are needed in controls over the receipts collection and reconciliation processes for excise taxes and license fees.
