Mayor Herb Adams said the city is up to its eyeballs in auditors and the cost of the work could fund any number of public works improvement projects.
Adams said the lack of new sidewalks, curbs, pavement streets and stormwater improvements, is due to the cost of the state audit currently under way.
The mayor's comments were made at the June 7 board meeting, as aldermen approved a resolution for the city to enter into a contract with Ross, Spinner & Kummer, P.C., for a compliance audit for the year that ends June 30, 2011. Cost of the audit is $10,000.
"We have had three audits recently and we pay around $10,000 for each one, but the state audit is $50,000," Adams said. "I can think of a lot that can be done (for that.)"
Three state auditors have been working in city hall for weeks, occupying the time of City Administrator Harold Selby and City Clerk Kim Barfield, asking to see records of city activities.
A total of 487 registered voters signed the petition for the state audit and the work could cost the city between $35,000 and $50,000.
Adams said the audit is not necessary and is costing taxpayers money that could be spent on other things.
"It's true that the older part of town and our park system needs are extensive," said BJ Lawrence, chief petitioner for the state audit. "But it seems that little thought goes into maintenance of what we have. Last year the city gave over $50,000 in employee pay increases and more this year, when senior citizens have not gotten a Social Security cost-of-living increase for three years."
The state audit won't reveal anything more than what the city-ordered audits find, according to the mayor.
"It's redundant to have three or four audits and they will all tell you the same thing," Adams said. "No one was ever caught with a hand in the cookie jar. And even now this petition does not accuse any of us with a hand in the cookie jar. This is all about policy and disagreement about policy. We should not be spending $50,000 just to say you disagree with policy."
Lawrence pointed out that new State Auditor Tom Schweich has unveiled a plan to pursue an enforcement role for state auditors as his office looks for not only official malfeasance, but inefficiencies in governmental agencies.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Schweich said after audits are done he will try to hold officials' feet to the fire by asking them to swear under oath to implement his recommendations by a certain date. At year's end, he'll issue a report listing who did and who didn't.
Selby said he has made an attempt to keep track of the hours he spent with the auditors, but gave up. He said auditors are asking few questions about spending and many questions about what the city does.
"This disagreement was about policy," Adams reiterated. "In the end, the auditors will say change this or change that. If the changes are easy we will change them, if they suggest things that are hard to change we will not change them.
"I will never change my policies," Adams said.
Lawrence said she and other petitioners don't understand the anger from elected city officials.
"This state audit is a citizens right under Missouri law. We would hope our elected officials would learn from the audit and embrace all suggested improvements for the city's benefit," Lawrence said. "Using words ‘never change policy' is not productive."
alwaysright posted at 1:59 am on Wed, Jun 29, 2011.
Gee Mr. Adams, if the State Audit will not show anything different than previous ones, why should you be so concerned and unhappy??Maybe the previous audits were so much cheaper for a reason.
Perhaps your antiquated idea of "No Policy Changes" is why the City of Pacific has stagnated for so many years.Seems the only "ideas" that progress are ones that you serve you the best. Pretty lights and sidewalks are fine, but where are the new businesses and jobs you spout about every election. We don't need a new City Hall, we need to build Pacific up more. Quit whining, let the State auditors do their job and get past it. If they don't find anything great. But if they have suggestions then be a man and accept them. Learn from them. In the meantime, how about concentrating on something besides sidewalks and streets. How about figuring out ways to entice and help businesses to move here. Then perhaps with the revenue raised from that, we could do a lot more in Pacific and be known for more than a "small town drug haven". By the way, I commend the Pacific Police Dept for stepping it up to rid our town of that title. Things were let go for awhile, but Chief Mansell and his crew are making a comeback and it is appreciated!! Don't step on their toes Mr Adams. Let them do their job. They deserve all of our support!
EJ Rotert posted at 5:15 pm on Wed, Jun 22, 2011.
Aw! Poor Herb! I find it interesting, though, that our mayor doesn't have any qualms about dishing out an outrageous amount of money on a part-time city attorney.