Modesto Bee Saturday, Mar. 31, 2012
Modesto leaders are first to admit that an independent auditor
hasn't done much to root out wasteful spending and save money for
taxpayers. Now, the amount of money being spent on the auditor — close to $500,000 since 2008 — is causing some faces to turn red. Two
council members want to re-evaluate the position, while others expect
better results from an accounting firm hired for $150,000 to serve as
auditor for the next year. The contract with Seattle-based Moss Adams LLP was approved last week
on a 5-2 vote, with Councilmen Joe Muratore and Dave Geer in dissent. "It's
a mistake to blindly approve $150,000 for them this year," Muratore
said. "We should limit our monetary commitment to them until we figure
out what role they are going to play." In February 2008, city
voters approved a reform package that created the Office of the City
Auditor to work directly for the City Council. A city auditor position
was previously in the city clerk's office. Frank DeMattos served
as auditor from September 2008 until the council terminated his contract
in March 2010 because he wasn't meeting expectations. DeMattos, who was
paid $96,200 a year, completed an audit that concluded the city's
payroll practices were "generally adequate." With the hiring of
Moss Adams under an original $150,000 contract in January 2011, city
officials said they hoped to use the firm's broader range of expertise
to study everything from overtime pay to the performance of city
departments. As things turned out, the large accounting and
business consultancy firm worked on proposals to privatize Modesto
Centre Plaza and the waste-water treatment plants. The two initiatives ran into political resistance, pushing them to the back burner. (more)
Modesto leaders are first to admit that an independent auditor
hasn't done much to root out wasteful spending and save money for
taxpayers. Now, the amount of money being spent on the auditor — close to $500,000 since 2008 — is causing some faces to turn red. Two
council members want to re-evaluate the position, while others expect
better results from an accounting firm hired for $150,000 to serve as
auditor for the next year. The contract with Seattle-based Moss Adams LLP was approved last week
on a 5-2 vote, with Councilmen Joe Muratore and Dave Geer in dissent. "It's
a mistake to blindly approve $150,000 for them this year," Muratore
said. "We should limit our monetary commitment to them until we figure
out what role they are going to play." In February 2008, city
voters approved a reform package that created the Office of the City
Auditor to work directly for the City Council. A city auditor position
was previously in the city clerk's office. Frank DeMattos served
as auditor from September 2008 until the council terminated his contract
in March 2010 because he wasn't meeting expectations. DeMattos, who was
paid $96,200 a year, completed an audit that concluded the city's
payroll practices were "generally adequate." With the hiring of
Moss Adams under an original $150,000 contract in January 2011, city
officials said they hoped to use the firm's broader range of expertise
to study everything from overtime pay to the performance of city
departments. As things turned out, the large accounting and
business consultancy firm worked on proposals to privatize Modesto
Centre Plaza and the waste-water treatment plants. The two initiatives ran into political resistance, pushing them to the back burner. (more)
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