HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2005-10-17 Item 6D - Resolution - Oppose Initiative 900 Regarding Performance Audits on State / Local Governments COUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS
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ITEM INFORMATION
I CAS NUMBER. 05-135 I ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE. 10/17/05
AGENDA ITEM TITLE A Resolution Expressing Opposition to Initiative 900 Which Requires Performance
Audits of Every State and Local Government Agency.
CA IEGORY Dzscusszon Motion Resolution Ordinance Bid Award Public Hearing Other
1 ftg Date tlItg Date Dltg Date 10/17/05 Mtg Date llltg Date Alts Date Mtg Date
SPONSOR Council May'or Adm Svcs DCD Finance Fire Legal P&R Police PTV
SPONSOR'S This initiative would give the state auditor wide powers to do performance audits on state
SUMMARY and local governments and any agencies, programs or grants given by those governments.
The initiative gives nine criteria to be used in audits, and allows state retail tax funds to
pay the auditor for this work.
REIVIE \VED BY COW Mtg CA &P Cmte F &S Cmte Transportation Cmte
Utilities Cmte Arts Comm. Parks Comm. Planning Comm.
DAZE. 10/17/05
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR /ADMIN. Adopt the resolution
CoMMIrrl'EE Finance and Safety will consider the resolution 10/17/05
COST IMPACT FUND SOURCE
EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
$unknown; possibly $50,000
Fund Source
Comments It's unclear whether the auditor will audit cities in 2006 if this initiative passes.
MTG. DATE RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
10/17/05
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MTG. DATE ATTACHMENTS
10/17/05 Memo from L. Lauterbach dated 10/12/05
Resolution Opposing I -900
To.
City Council
From:
Lucy Lauterbach
Date:
October 12, 2005
Subject:
Resolution Rel!ardinl! Initiative 900
InitIatIve 900 would require performance audIts of government. It would do trus regardless of
the fact it duplicates action already mandated by the state, and m a manner that IS overly broad
and capncIOus.
1-900 would require performance audIts on every state, CIty, umversIty and any programs funded
by those governments. A portion of the state sales tax is set aSIde m the lllltiative to partIally
offset the state costs, though the current State audItor estImates the cost would be at least four
tlllles the $17 mIllIon set-aside for the 2005-2007 penod. With regard to audIts oflocal
government, the lllltiative reads". .. local governments and each of therr agencies, accounts, and
programs.. local transportation programs, and other governmental entItIes, agencIes, accounts,
and programs. That could mean not only TukwIla but also all our contracts and grant programs
as well.
The current fmancial audIts the state does m TukwIla each year cover around 675 hours of work
by TukwIla Finance staff to cover. The cost IS approximately $56,000.
A performance audIt would require teaching the state worker (or more likely a contractor for the
state) about local government and TukwIla specIfically before he/she could analyze how we're
domg. It could take 1,000 hours, dependmg on how thorough the analysis was. Audits are to be
done annually.
Another effect of the lllltIatIve could be to have audIts used for polItIcal gam. For example, If
there were a Democrat audItor and a RepublIcan House of RepresentatIves, the audItor could do
audits that would embarrass the House agencies m an attempt to make the RepublIcans (or If the
situatIOn were reversed, the Democrats) look bad.
Because what will be looked at in each agency IS set m the mitiatIve, there IS not flexibilIty to
see that Tukwila, with a populatIOn of 17,000, has enough polIce for a city of 50,000 because of
our particular situatIOn and because it IS a priority to control cnme in the city. The audIt could
fmd we have too many polIce and fire for a city our size, and reqmre us to reduce those numbers.
That is the effect ofpassmg 1-900. Heanng that It allows performance audIts sounds reasonable
untIl one looks at the language m the imtIatIVe. It IS not well thought out, and could wreak havoc
on whoever is audited. Trus resolutIOn IS commg to both Committee and CouncIl m one evenmg
to allow ItS passage and to educate the publIc about the effect oftrus mitiatIVe before November
6th.
DRAFT
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO INITIATIVE 900,
WHICH REQUIRES PERFORMANCE AUDITS OF EVERY STATE AND
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
WHEREAS, Tukwila has been thoroughly audited by Washington State Financial
Auditors annually for many years, and has continually received excellent audit reports;
and
WHEREAS, Initiative 900 would require performance audits of every branch of
government, including cities and each of their agencies, accounts and programs, and
WHEREAS, Tukwila currently spends approximately 675 staff hours annually
responding to State financial audits, and must pay over $50,000 each year for these
audits, and
WHEREAS, funding the initiative would use a portion of current retail sales tax
revenues, which will put more pressure on State's limited funding; and
WHEREAS, because of their close relationship with citizens, cities know best what
their citizenry wants and the most effective ways to provide those services, while the
initiative sets standards which each audited government agency must meet, regardless
of their size or particular circumstances; and
WHEREAS, the costs involved in extra time and additional funding for another
audit each year would erode the City's ability to serve its citizens,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
The Tukwila City Council declares its opposition to the passage of Initiative 900,
and urges all citizens to vote "no" on the initiative.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON,
at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of ,2005.
ATIEST/ AUTHENTICATED:
Pamela Linder, Council President
Jane E. Cantu, CMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY
Office of the City Attorney
Filed with the City Oerk:
Passed by the City Council.
Resolution Number'
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