City Council members have approved a proposal to establish a city auditor's office. Now it's up to Mayor Jeremy Harris to decide whether to put the question to voters. Proposal for city auditor
goes up for mayor’s OKBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comThe proposal calls for a setup similar to that of state Auditor Marion Higa's. The Council would appoint an auditor for a term of six years who would be responsible for all auditing activities for the legislative branch.
The auditor would have subpoena powers. A two-thirds majority vote by the nine-member Council would be needed to forcibly remove an auditor.
Members voted 8-1 for the measure. Councilman Steve Holmes, the sole dissenting vote, said he preferred a separate proposal that would have expanded the existing Office of Council Services to have broader auditing duties.
Councilman Jon Yoshimura, a major proponent of an auditor's office, said a lot of lip service is given to the need to improve government accountability.
"This proposed charter amendment would put some teeth into those words a lot of us have been talking about for years."
Councilman Duke Bainum said the Ewa Villages scandal and questions raised about government contracts and overruns speak to the need for an independent auditor.
In 1998 the City Charter Commission tabled a proposal introduced by Yoshimura that would have placed the question with voters that year.
Carol Costa, spokeswoman for Mayor Jeremy Harris, said he has concerns about the expense of creating a new agency and has asked staff to determine the costs involved before deciding whether to sign the bill.
Harris' decision is final because the Council cannot override a mayoral veto of a Charter amendment.
City & County of Honolulu
