Editor’s note: In July, the Clark County Charter Review Commission passed 10 amendments to be sent to the voter in the November General Election. One of those amendments was adopted by the Clark County Council, leaving nine to be determined by the voters.
Clark County Today wrote about all of the amendments back in July. In this updated series, Clark County Today is reposting highlights from those reports in July as well as noting some arguments for and against each amendment that appear in the Voters’ Pamphlet.
Proposed Charter Amendment No. 27: Concerning Legislative Branch Performance Audits
This would make it clear that the county council or legislative branch may conduct a performance audit of county finances or programs to review effectiveness and efficiency.
Voters’ Pamphlet Argument for:
“A vote for performance audits is a vote for responsible, transparent, and efficient use of taxpayer funds.”
“Performance auditing has been shown to improve the efficient use of funds in government operations. … It grants the power to conduct independent audits to the body that approves the budget for those departments and operations, the county council.”
“Direct access to information produces better policy and the council is responsible for policy and the budget. Give the council this tool to do it better.”
Voters’ Pamphlet Argument against:
“County Councilors can already request audits. … The Council already has a voice in the audit process.”
“If a Councilor wants an outside review, the Washington State Auditor’s Office already offers one for free. … Hiring private audit firms costs taxpayers money, and those firms do not answer to voters.”
“Amendment 27 would add new costs, not reduce them.”
“We should not spend taxpayer money on reviews we already can get for free.”
Here are some of the highlights of what Clark County Today reported in July, when the commission passed the amendment:
This amendment, sponsored by Peter Silliman of District 5, passed the commissioners by vote of 13-2.
Silliman opened his presentation by recalling the great Ronald Reagan quote when referring to the Soviet Union and negotiations about nuclear disarmament. Trust but verify.
At the county level, there should be checks and balances, separation of powers, and accountability, Silliman said.
“I don’t think you can have checks and balances if you don’t have the ability to independently verify,” he said. “This is what this is about.
One person in public comment who did not want this amendment to pass noted that many of the commissioners have said that the county already has a spending problem. This would not help.
“There’s already a bunch of audits of various types that occur,” the person said. “This would just allow politicization of the audit process and cost the county more money.”
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