The Connecticut state auditors just released a detailed report that raises serious concerns about how Governor Ned Lamont’s office handled state vehicles and other assets in recent years.
The findings point to lapses in oversight, sloppy recordkeeping, and violations of state rules around vehicle use.
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These issues came up during audits of the 2022–23 and 2023–24 fiscal years. Earlier investigations into improper conduct by a top aide had already set off alarm bells, and now the governor’s team says they’ve started putting stricter controls in place.
Audit Reveals Lax Oversight of State Vehicles
State Auditors John Geragosian and Craig Miner found that the governor’s office let proper vehicle oversight slide for years.
They found missing mileage logs and incomplete vehicle utilization reports. That made it nearly impossible to figure out how assets were actually being used or if anyone was following the rules.
Improper Vehicle Use by Chief of Staff
The auditors also took another look at the previous high-profile case involving former chief of staff Jonathan Dach.
The review confirmed Dach had used a state vehicle as his personal car for almost two years, breaking multiple policies. A separate investigation in June found he’d driven recklessly and crashed, causing $3,509 in damage.
Violations in Vehicle Parking Protocols
The report pointed out that on 37 out of 84 days reviewed, state pool vehicles weren’t parked overnight at approved state facilities.
That’s a clear break from established rules and opened the door to misuse and risk for state property.
Governor’s Office Responds
A spokesman for Governor Lamont said the administration responded to the audit by putting stricter internal controls in place and increasing accountability.
They’ve also made sure all pooled vehicles have been returned to the Department of Administrative Services (DAS).
These changes are supposed to prevent further misuse and improve transparency in tracking assets.
Asset Inventory Gaps and Technology Oversight Issues
The report didn’t just focus on vehicles. It also flagged big failures in managing inventory.
Nearly $25,000 worth of items in the governor’s office had no location records. That’s… not great, and it raises obvious questions about where those things went.
As of April 2025, the office had 92 laptops and personal computers—more than three per employee. Some of those devices weren’t properly recorded or transferred as required.
State Inventory System Shortcomings
DAS dropped the ball too, failing to enter 72 assets, worth about $128,400, into the state inventory system.
Without documentation, tracking and protecting state property just gets harder.
Concerns Over Timesheet Approvals
The auditors also criticized the way staff timesheets got approved without supervisors actually knowing the hours worked.
This lack of oversight in payroll could mean overpayments or mistakes in pay. Lamont’s office says supervisors are now reviewing all timesheets and writing up formal procedures to prevent this in the future.
Impact Across Connecticut Communities
While the report focused on the governor’s Hartford office, the implications go way beyond the state capital.
Asset and vehicle management, along with accurate payroll, matter for public trust everywhere—from New Haven to Bridgeport, Waterbury to Norwich, and Danbury to Stamford.
Even smaller towns like Guilford and Middletown count on state leaders to manage resources responsibly.
Key Takeaways from the Audit
If you’ve been following this story, here’s what state auditors flagged:
- No proper mileage logs or utilization reports for state vehicles.
- A senior official used state cars for personal reasons.
- Lots of people ignored overnight parking rules for pool vehicles.
- About $25,000 in office equipment can’t be tracked to specific locations.
- Way too many computers per employee, and nobody’s really tracking them.
- Seventy-two assets worth $128,400 have vanished from the state’s inventory system.
- Nobody’s really watching over employee timesheet approvals.
- The Governor’s office says it’ll tighten controls and put real procedures in place.
From Norwalk to New Britain, holding state government accountable isn’t just a formality—it’s essential. Connecticut’s got some work ahead.
Here is the source article for this story: Audit: Connecticut governor’s office failed to log use of state vehicles, kept extra laptops
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