Performance audit belongs on fast track
Tuesday, January 25, 2005 7:24 AM PST
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E-mail this articleThe Olympia-based Evergreen Freedom Foundation has been working since last summer to ensure passage of meaningful performance audit legislation this year. We're optimistic that the conservative public policy organization's effort will pay off.
The EFF reports that 53 House members have pledged to support a performance audit bill this session. That number includes House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, who has indicated that he'll put performance audit legislation on a fast track.
Seventeen senators have taken the pledge. And Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, already has drafted a strong performance audit bill.
Roach's bill reportedly follows the model offered by the EFF. It would provide for periodic review and analysis of the economy, efficiency and effectives of policies, management, fiscal affairs and operations of government agencies and programs.
The auditor's report would be posted on a Web site accessible to all. And the bill would mandate that the Legislature include the report as part of the appropriations process. Making the audits easily available to the general public is important. It would likely bring a measure of accountability to the process that's been largely absent with past audits.
When used as part of the appropriations process, these performance reviews can result in significant budget savings. The EFF reports that performance audits in Texas have identified $16 billion in potential savings since being authorized in 1991. A recent performance review in California identified $32 billion in potential savings that could be assumed over a five-year period, according to the EFF.
There's considerable resistance to performance reviews in the state government. Understandably. The accountability they would bring to the budgeting process worries many state officials and many in the Legislature, as well.
State Auditor Brian Sonntag won legislation to allow performance audits years ago, but legislators and state officials haven't followed through on the audits with corrective actions. The transparency mandated in the performance audit bill offered by Sen. Roach would make it very difficult, if not impossible, for legislators to ignore these periodic reviews.
The Legislature should approve Roach's bill or one similar to it. Performance audits make for good government. Period.
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