Legislative auditor criticizes Vets Home finances

Home with a troubled history
The Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Veterans Home

The Legislative Auditor's Office has released a report criticizing financial management at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis.

The report says the home has serious internal control weaknesses in its financial operations.

Michael Hassing, the audit manager who worked on the report, says some of the financial documentation auditors were looking for was missing.

"The home did not adequately safeguard its receipts, did not adequately safeguard its fixed assets. The home was not reconciling its internal accounting systems to the state's accounting systems or to local bank account statements," said Hassing.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Hassing said he was not able to determine if there was any fraud or theft because of the missing documentation.

In a written statement, the state Department of Veterans Affairs says it's addressing the problems in the report. This is the first audit of the home since 2005.

Last month, a new administrator was appointed to run the home.

In addition to the financial problems cited by the auditor, the Minneapolis home has a history of regulatory problems. It's been cited for 66 regulatory violations since 2005.