FCTA resolution in favor of an elected auditor

Resolution in favor of an elected auditor

Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance Board of Directors

Approved January 6, 2004

WHEREAS Fairfax County currently has no elected Auditor for monitoring and reviewing a total County budget of approximately $4 billion; and

WHEREAS there is a need to establish an elected Auditor for the entire County operations, including school administration, who will report to and issue official written reports to the Board of Supervisors and to the general public; and

WHEREAS such an Auditor needs to be independent of the County Government he oversees and the elected body which governs it, and needs to be accountable to the citizens of Fairfax County,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Fairfax County Taxpayers Alliance calls upon the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to seek authority from the Virginia General Assembly for the creation of an elected Fairfax County Auditor (Auditor), with such Auditor having the authority to investigate, and refer for prosecution, suspects believed to have defrauded or embezzled County resources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor's mission will be to serve as an independent, objective reviewer and evaluator of County operations and activities, with a view toward promoting effectiveness, efficiency, and economy of County operations, as well as promoting best practices; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there will be annual financial audits by the Auditor, concluded no later than the first quarter following the close of the County fiscal year, to ensure the integrity of the County's financial management and information systems, including, but not limited to, payroll, contracts, grants, procurements, property management, and human resources, and that the Auditor will also conduct program evaluations to identify irregularities, illegalities, and recommendations for improvements and constructive solutions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor will be authorized to investigate allegations of criminal conduct, with power of subpoena, and to investigate civil and administrative matters, as well as waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement, and any other violations of law and regulation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor will be authorized to inspect County programs for performance evaluations to ensure that the County is meeting its needs, goals, and objectives of each program and to ensure that management and internal controls are in place throughout all County operations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such an election by the citizens of Fairfax County for an Auditor will be for a four-year term coincident with other County Constitutional officers and subject to re-election by the voters of Fairfax County.