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:
2009 Audits
New audits in 2009 include: Performance Audit of Transit, Animal Care and Control, Emergency Medical Services Levy, Sheriff's Office Internal Investigation, and FMD Facilities Maintenance Program, in addition to other follow-up projects and ongoing audits.
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 Measurement
Advancing performance-based government is one of the ways the auditor's office promotes cost-effective and accountable county services. Much progress has been made that lays the groundwork for a countywide performance measurement program. Since 2002, the council has enacted legislation seeking to improve the county's use of performance measurement.
This summer, the council considered changes to the county code based on recommendations by the Performance Measurement Work Group, whose membership has countywide representation and passed an ordinance requiring a strategic plan and performance report for King County in 2009. The legislation also requires all King County agencies and departments to prepare strategic plans every five years, annual business plans, and relevant performance measures.