Auditors report shortcomings in Arizona regulatory agency

Auditors say the Arizona state government department whose broad range of responsibilities include checking the accuracy of measuring devices such as gasoline station pumps and licensing occupations such as pest management applicators is itself falling short on the job.

A performance report released Tuesday by the Auditor General's Office said divisions of the Department of Agriculture didn't always prioritize high-priority establishments such as gas stations' pumps and retail outlets' scales.

The auditors also reported shortcomings in occupational licensing. The department licensed hundreds of pest management applicators who provide services in homes, schools and businesses without obtaining criminal history background checks, the report said.

The auditors also said the department failed to retain public records related to its licensing and inspection functions.

The department agreed to take numerous recommended changes by auditors to improve its operations, including checking what action, if any, it should do about licenses granted to applicants who didn't meet all requirements.

However, Director Mark Killian also said some of the problems stem from funding cuts that have led to a significant reduction in staffing, with the number of inspectors in three divisions examined in the audit dropping from 57 to 31.