The Department of Environmental Quality monitors and enforces regulated facilities’ compliance with environmental laws and regulations to control or prevent the release of contaminants into the environment that may have negative effects on the public’s health. Regulated facilities include power plants, wastewater treatment plants, dry cleaners, construction equipment, and other portable pollution sources. Although the Department monitors compliance by conducting inspections of regulated facilities, it can more effectively protect public health and the environment by targeting inspections of facilities based on risk. Additionally, the Department needs to take more consistent, timely, and effective enforcement actions.

In fiscal year 2011, Colorado River Union High School District’s student AIMS scores were similar to the peer districts’ averages, and it operated efficiently overall with similar or lower costs in most operational areas. The District’s administrative costs were lower than peer districts’. However, it needs to strengthen some controls over its computer systems and cash handling. The District’s plant operations costs per square foot were similar to peer districts’, and its food service costs were much lower. The District’s transportation costs were mixed with a higher cost per rider, but lower cost per mile; however, the District needs to improve its controls over fuel purchases. Further, the District did not maintain complete Proposition 301 pay records, and some of the District’s performance pay plan goals were so easily met that they did not promote improved job performance.

In fiscal year 2011, Chino Valley Unified School District’s student achievement was similar to peer district and state averages, and its operational efficiencies were mixed with some costs higher and some costs lower than peer districts’ averages. The District’s per-pupil administrative costs were slightly higher than peer districts’ because the District employed more administrative positions per pupil. The District’s plant operations, food service, and transportation programs operated reasonably efficiently, with cost measures such as cost per square foot, cost per meal, and cost per mile that were similar to or lower than peer districts’ averages. However, the District needs to improve controls over access to critical information systems and strengthen controls over its fuel purchase cards.

The Coconino County Parks and Recreation Department (CCPR) contracted with PROS Consulting to develop an Organizational Master Plan that would aid the Department in sustaining a high quality park and recreation system over the next 10 years. This project seeks to provide sound and realistic recommendations, strategies, tactics, and suggested initiatives that address current and evolving park and recreation needs of residents of Coconino County.

The Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers regulates individuals and facilities involved in funeral directing, embalming, and cremation. The Board should strengthen its licensing process by ensuring that application forms are consistent with all of its administrative rules. The Board should also apply late fees for untimely renewals, ensure that its renewal application forms are consistent with rules, and either audit continuing education or require documentation of it with the renewal application. In addition, the Board needs to improve its inspection process by inspecting facilities at least once every 5 years, as required by statute, and by better documenting inspection results and following up on deficiencies. Finally, the Board adequately investigated and resolved complaints in a timely manner, but should implement procedures for providing accurate and complete public information about those it regulates.

The Office of the Auditor General has conducted a sunset review of the Department of Environmental Quality using the criteria in Arizona’s sunset law. This report includes responses to the sunset factors and is the final in a series of three reports on the Department. The first report focused on the Department’s processes for monitoring and enforcing regulated facilities’ compliance with state and federal environmental laws and regulations. The second report examined the Department’s processes for ensuring that owners and operators of petroleum underground storage tanks comply with state and federal laws and regulations regarding financial responsibility for leaks and spills.

The Arizona State Board of Cosmetology licenses and regulates cosmetologists, salons, and schools. The Board should continue to ensure that it issues licenses only to qualified applicants, comply with statutorily required time frames for issuing licenses, and develop and propose legislation requiring continuing education for license renewal. The Board should also revise its inspection approach to ensure all salons are appropriately inspected in a timely manner based on the risks that the salons pose to the public. Additionally, the Board should improve its complaint resolution processes by conducting adequate investigations and addressing weaknesses in its decision-making processes. Finally, the Board should provide timely and complete information about licensees over the phone and on its Web site.

In fiscal year 2011, Elfrida Elementary School District’s student AIMS scores for reading and writing were similar to the peer districts’ averages, and its math scores were lower. The District’s operational efficiencies compared favorably to peer district averages in most areas. All of the District’s nonclassroom areas operated with lower per pupil costs than peer districts’ averages and were reasonably efficient overall considering the District’s small size. However, the District’s transportation cost per mile was 59 percent higher than the peer districts’ average, partly because of slightly higher staffing levels. Providing transportation services cooperatively with neighboring districts could help bring costs closer to the peer district average. Further, the District needs to strengthen its accounting and computer controls.

The San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation is home to approximately 2,000 people. Numerous others come to the District to visit the San Xavier del Bac Mission Church. The San Xavier District Pedestrian Access and Safety Study is being prepared to improve the walking and bicycling environment on the San Xavier District for Community members and visitors alike. The study is being funded by the Arizona Department of Transportation Multimodal Planning Division’s Planning Assistance for Rural Areas program.