City passes audit with flying colors
By Harry Gatjens
During an exit meeting with the State Auditors Office (SAO) Tuesday, the City of Edmonds’ accounting systems passed with no findings, nor major recommendations.
The SAO audited both the city’s financial system statements and those of the Transportation Benefit District. In both cases the statements were passed with unqualified positive opinions.
The city had even corrected all of the deficiencies from prior audits.
The audit was for the year 2011 And reflects positively on the work of both interim finance director Jim Tarte And current finance director Shawn Hunstock.
The city is due for another audit for the year 2012 and the TBD is scheduled for an audit every three years.
The auditors do research prior to commencing the audit to make sure that they catch most major issues. They look at disbursements, newspaper articles, minutes, citizen tips and major projects among other things to determine the direction of the audit.
While the city still has financial issues looming in the future, citizens can take heart knowing that the city’s financial systems appear to be working well. The issues are more about growing expenses and lack of revenue, and not mishandling of either funds or information.
This is a sharp and welcome improvement over most of the past decade. Our current elected and appointed officials are doing well.
Yes, this is great news and does in fact reflect the efforts of both interim finance director Jim Tarte and current finance director Shawn Hunstock.
But let’s not forget the role of the City Council Finance Committee that provides oversight and key contributions regarding implementation of financial policy reforms. To this end, Council Member Buckshnis’s leadership efforts should be recognized as well. Clearly, her background and experience in financial auditing and finance regulation -as well as her determination- were instrumental in this success. Unfortunately, the Edmonds community will no longer benefit from her expertise and life experience since she was removed from the Finance Committee by newly appointed Council President Petso… to what aim???
It is not my intent to be overly redundant with my perspectives regarding Ms. Buckshnis not being allowed to continue her efforts which remain unfinished. Interested persons may read my (and others’) comments here…
http://myedmondsnews.com/2013/01/letter-to-editor-council-president-exhibits-forward-thinking-with-appointments/
Rich, I agree that Diane deserves recognition for her work and determination to improve the City’s financial picture. And I’ve heard her state that due to updating policies, correcting errors, hiring the right people, etc., the mission of ‘saving Edmonds’ was accomplished. So the community will continue to benefit from these results, while she takes her skills/interests to other areas of responsibility. I think it’s a clear win/win for Edmonds.
I have worked Diane on the Levy committee and the Ecomonic Development Commission. What I have observed is her growth in the ability to service the city. She always speak her mind and lets you know where she stands on issues. If all council members would do that we would have a better insight to what each council person would do if they were free to do whatever they wanted. Diane like the Green Bay Pakers, Dogs, and Flowers. I have seen her work hard to create more transparentcy and accountablility. While I may not agree with all her position she has always taken the time to sit down and discuss the issues and can be pursuaded to change an opinion if presented with the facts. My discussions with other council members.
Her work to date on financial issues for the city have helped us create a better understanding of our financial situation. One only needs to look at the projections to see that we do not have a sustainable budget and we have much more work to do. That is probabably why a large majority of citizens who were polled as a part of the Strategic Plan ask for a Budgeting By Priorities Process to be put in place in Edmonds and why the also wanted a better accountablily system for city activities. Both these processes will bring about a better understanding of more of the details of our budget and its issues. Diane was on record of pushing for the BBP process and had a good understanding of how to make it work in Edmonds. Loosing her skills in the area of finance at this critical time will be a loss and a set back to sorting out our ongoing financial issues.
Diane is pretty straighforward with her views but willing to learn and change as needed. I only hope we can find out what the other council members stand for and against. I would hope that at the upcomming Council Retreat on Feb 1 and 2. Each council member would give us added insights into what they are thinking like Diane has done. With the Strategic Plan to guide them we have a lot of work to do and issues to sort out and I remain hopeful this council will step up and take the direction given to them by the public input in the Strategic Plan.