L.A. agrees to pay up to $2.2 million for outside audit of homelessness programs

The Los Angeles City Council agreed Friday to pay up to $2.2 million for an outside audit of homelessness programs that was ordered by a federal judge.

But the commitment fell short of the $2.8 million to $4.2 million proposed by the firm selected by U.S. District Judge David O. Carter to conduct the audit. The council did not explain its rationale for setting the lower amount.

After initially indicating in a hearing Friday afternoon that he would accept the offer, Carter recalled the city’s attorneys as they headed for the courtroom door and warned them that he was not satisfied.

“I can’t have a substandard audit,” he said. “It can’t be $100,000 short or even a million short.”