Connecticut Governor’s Office Under Scrutiny for ‘Significant Operational Deficiencies’
HARTFORD, CT — The office of Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has been flagged for significant operational deficiencies spanning the 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal years. A comprehensive audit released Thursday by State Auditors John Geragosian and Craig Miner revealed chronic mismanagement of state vehicles, a substantial inventory of unaccounted-for laptops, and flawed timesheet approval processes, echoing previous findings of misconduct and highlighting a systemic lack of oversight within the executive branch.
Widespread Misuse of State Vehicles Uncovered
The auditors’ report, which examined both the governor’s and lieutenant governor’s offices, found that Governor Lamont’s office consistently failed to adhere to state policies regarding the use of three assigned state vehicles. One vehicle is designated for the governor, while two others serve as “pool vehicles” for staff. State regulations mandate daily mileage logs detailing operator assignments and certification from drivers, with agency heads justifying essential travel. However, the audit revealed a failure to maintain these daily logs, with vehicle utilization reports lacking crucial driver information.
More alarmingly, on 37 of 84 days, pool vehicles were not parked overnight at a state facility or an approved alternative location, a direct violation of state policy.
These findings resonate with a private investigation commissioned by Governor Lamont earlier this year, which concluded in early June that former chief of staff, Jonathan Dach, egregiously violated state rules. Dach reportedly used a state vehicle as his personal car for nearly two years, accumulating personal miles and driving at speeds that constituted reckless driving under Connecticut law. This inquiry was prompted by a November 24th story from *Inside Investigator*, a news site affiliated with the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, which brought to light the apparent misuse of a 2020 Ford Escape by Dach and a 2019 Ford Fusion by communications staff. The Ford Escape used by Dach, upon its return to the state motor pool, required $3,509 in repairs for passenger-side damage, leading to a mandatory referral for disciplinary action to the Office of State Ethics.
Alarming Discrepancies in Technology and Asset Management
Beyond vehicle misuse, the audit uncovered alarming discrepancies in the management of state-owned technology and other assets. As of April 2025, inventory records for the governor’s office listed 92 laptops and personal computers. This number is particularly striking given the office’s fluctuating staff count of 34 employees in fiscal year 2022-23 and 25 employees in 2023-24, averaging more than three devices per employee.
While the governor’s office stated that some older laptops are retained for interns and fellows, and 18 have been transferred to the Office of Workforce Strategy (a move yet to be recorded), the sheer volume and lack of proper inventory tracking raised concerns about accountability. Furthermore, the audit found that inventory records failed to accurately account for nearly $25,000 worth of items within the governor’s office. Compounding this, the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), responsible for providing fiscal services, did not properly enter 72 assets, collectively valued at almost $128,400, into the state’s inventory system. DAS has since committed to closer collaboration with the governor’s office to rectify these record-keeping issues.
Flawed Timesheet Approval Processes Pose Risk
Another critical area of concern was the approval of staff timesheets. Auditors noted that both the governor’s office and DAS approved timesheets for executive staff “without direct knowledge of their work hours or locations,” and lacked formal written procedures for doing so. This oversight creates a significant vulnerability for potential payroll inaccuracies or abuse. In response, Governor Lamont’s office stated it has reinstated the practice of supervisor approval for all timesheets and is actively developing formal written procedures to prevent future lapses.
Governor’s Office Responds to Findings
Governor Lamont’s spokesman, Rob Blanchard, stated on Thursday that “This issue has already been addressed by the governor, who immediately had staff adopt internal controls and policies around acceptable use of state vehicles, instituted greater accountability, and returned all pooled vehicles” to the Department of Administrative Services. The audit’s findings underscore the critical need for robust internal controls and meticulous record-keeping across all levels of state government to ensure transparency and prevent the misuse of public resources.
