An independent review of DeKalb County's purchasing procedures says that a pattern of violating rules by awarding no-bid orders extends across several departments.

The forensic audit by KPMG built on a previous report by county finance officials that payments for some technology contracts in the information services department were routinely split into amounts small enough to "circumvent" county policies.

Those policies require competitive bids for contracts over $50,000 and County Commission approval for contracts over $100,000. But many expenditures fell just under the threshold, with payment amounts such as $49,500.

The commission asked auditors to dig into this late last year. On Monday, KPMG gave commissioners a 28-page draft advisory showing that the problem went beyond technology consultants, even involving a firm that installs playground equipment.

The auditors reviewed payments to 33 vendors and found that many of the companies were paid though they lacked a contract with DeKalb. Even those with contracts were paid a total of $10.9 million over the contracted amounts, the report said.

The audit found no intentional wrongdoing. It blamed a lack of training and confusion about procurement policy.