As a voter, I was skeptical about having an independent city auditor’s office. This office was created by referendum of the voters. The public wanted third party oversight of city government, for good cause.
I will be the first to admit I was wrong. A primary problem was the auditor being hired and fired by the mayor’s office, who could also set the auditors operating budget.
The new independent auditor’s office is turning out to be all good for the people. Flex your authority often, please.
We know that local government is riddled with pervasive waste and fraud by public employees and contractors. This waste and fraud damages the very fabric of our government. Each year families give up a $1,000 plus of their income to pay property taxes, and it is a strain to most families that need the money. It is simply intolerable to steal the hard earned money of families.
Stan Sewell’s newly formed department gets an A plus on the library funds investigation regarding fraudulent filings of public employees. The auditor board member is correct, developing policies for travel in the future does address the problem moving forward. There are public employees that lied during the investigation, they got to go.
My property tax dollars are not library fun money. There are members that pay $50 that do not appreciate being ripped off, as well.
April Eidson