The hiring of a Kittitas County Manager (or Administrator) was brought up in every public forum leading up to the recent appointment of a district #2 commissioner.
Spirited debate came from both pro and con sides with the cons generally braking the conversation to a screeching halt with: “We can’t afford it … it’s too expensive”.
We submit the following Daily Record news article for your consideration, study and comment … with these two questions:
#1: Is it possible that the hiring of a competent County Manager/Administrator would reduce expenditures and increase the efficiency of our Kittitas County operations?
#2: Is it possible that there are qualified people in our county?
FYI: In local government in the United States, a county administrator or county manager is a person appointed to be the administrative manager of a county, in a council-manager form of county government.
KCS Editorial Staff
May 26, 2016 | Daily Record |
State auditor’s office gives award to Ellensburg School District
The state recently awarded the district and Business Manager Farley Walker with a stewardship award. Since 2011, there have only been 12 stewardship awards presented across the state, and this is the first time a school district has been recognized.
In a letter to the school board, the auditor wrote that Walker, “had demonstrated outstanding leadership by creating a culture that promotes accountability for public resources.”
Walker said the award validates the internal controls the district has put in place over the last decade, and that the district’s focus on internal controls has paid off.
“What they have recognized is what we do day to day,” he said. “Those strong internal controls have translated into strong fiscal health and that fiscal health allows us to meet the board’s goals and objectives.”
Internal controls include things like a monthly closing-the-books process, personnel contracts, responsibility based budgeting, federal and state procurement and inventory controls. Walker said that whether or not people understand what internal controls are, there are independent entities that have recognized the district for its work.
“It makes a difference to investors that go out and buy our bonds, it makes a difference to the state audit office when they look at our financials, which should give the community confidence in what we do as a school district,” Walker said. “It allows us to be good stewards to the taxpayers’ money.”
Last year, Moody’s, a bond credit rating business, recognized the district’s strong fiscal health and upgraded its bond rating from single A to double A, a move that saves taxpayer money and brings in more investors.
The stewardship award was presented after the district received a perfect audit from the state. It’s a rare occurrence, but not the district’s first.
“It’s an incredible accomplishment,” said Superintendent Paul Farris on Wednesday. (MORE)
Source: May 26, 2016 | Daily Record |
HAVE A SENTINEL IDEA TO SHARE ?
SUBMIT YOUR CONTENT HERE
You do not have to be logged-in to submit.
Use our “Write and Click” editing page to quickly add your content.
Leave a Reply