An audit of the city of St. Louis is underway, with the first report released on Thursday, examining the city’s Supply Division.

Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway’s office gave the division an overall rating of “good,” but noted that some city personnel have made emergency purchases that did not meet the city's definition of "emergency," recommending greater oversight to ensure departments aren’t using emergency purchases to circumvent standard procedure.

Auditors also found that despite a requirement for competitive bidding for emergency purchases of more than $500, price quotes or bids were rarely documented.

“Simple steps like competitive bidding and proper documentation can save thousands and ensure the very best deal for taxpayers," Galloway said in a statement.

This is the first in a series of reports as Galloway’s office evaluates St. Louis’ finances, a process that could take two or three years.

An audit of this scale is expected to cost the city roughly $2 million in total, something officials hope will be a worthwhile investment if the investigations lead to savings, a reduction of waste and more efficiency in city government. By law, all expenses incurred in performing a state audit must be paid by the political subdivision that requested it.