ADVANCING PERFORMANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY

The King County Auditor's Office conducts audits and studies that identify and recommend effective ways to improve county government. We work on a broad range of issues that effect the citizens and services of King County. Highlights of our current projects are:

2010 Audits
New audits in 2010 include: Performance Audit of Transit Bus Procurement, Audit of Custodial Services, Emergency Medical Services Levy Financial Audit, Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention, Sheriff's Office Traffic Enforcement Review, Unfunded Mandates Review, Performance Audit of Risk Management Division, Review of Productivity Initiative, and King County Sheriff's Office Internal Investigations Unit and Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, in addition to other follow-up projects and ongoing audits.

For more detailed information about the newly adopted Auditor's Office Work Program (Motion 2010-0121; motion enactment 13185) passed on March 8, 2010, please click here.

Capital Projects Oversight
In 2007, the King County Council created the Capital Projects Oversight program within the King County Auditor’s office. The oversight program was established to mitigate capital project overruns and potential problems, contain costs, and inform decision-making processes through adequate, timely, and useful standardized reporting. Current projects being monitored are: Accountable Business Transformation, Brightwater Wastewater Treatment System, Harborview – Ninth and Jefferson Building, Jail Integrated Security Project, and Countywide Contracting and Procurement.

Countywide Community Forms  
In September 2007, the Metropolitan King County Council enacted a public outreach program called Countywide Community Forums to enhance public participation and civic engagement in government. Volunteers coordinate the program by organizing small, community based discussion forums countywide to provide feedback on county-related public policy issues.

The auditor’s office oversees the program and has been working with the volunteer program coordinator and deputies to ensure that program materials are fair and balanced, data collection and analysis techniques are sound, and donated funds are managed appropriately.

Countywide Performance Management
Since 2002, the council has enacted legislation seeking to improve the county's use of performance measures. Much progress has been made that lays the groundwork for a countywide performance management, measurement, and reporting system. Based on recommendations by the auditor-led Performance Management Work Group whose membership has countywide representation, the development of a countywide strategic plan and performance report in 2010 is now mandated for King County . A draft of the first countywide strategic plan for King County is now available for public review . This plan has resulted in part from efforts by this office to promote performance management in King County. The legislation also requires all King County agencies and departments to prepare strategic plans every five years, annual business plans, and relevant performance measures. Advancing performance-based government is one of the ways the auditor's office promotes cost-effective and accountable county services.