Section·805 - Office of the City Auditor

The office of City Auditor is hereby established. The City Auditor shall be appointed by the Council. Each such appointment shall be made as soon as such can reasonably be done after the expiration of the latest incumbent’s term of office. Each such appointment shall be for a term ending four (4) years from and after the date of expiration of the immediately preceding term; provided, that if a vacancy should occur in such office before the expiration of the former incumbent’s terms, the Council shall appoint a successor to serve only for the remainder of said former incumbent’s term.

The office of City Auditor shall become vacant upon the happening before the expiration of his term of any of the events set forth in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), (i), (j), (k), and (l) of Section 409 of this Charter. The Council, by resolution adopted by not less than ten (10) of its members may remove an incumbent from the office of City Auditor, before the expiration of his or her term, for misconduct, inefficiency, incompetence, inability or failure to perform the duties of such office or negligence in the performance of such duties, provided it first states in writing the reasons for such removal and gives the incumbent an opportunity to be heard before the Council in his or her own defense; otherwise, the Council may not remove an incumbent from such office before the expiration of his or her term.

The City Auditor shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Conduct or cause to be conducted annual post audits of all the fiscal transactions and accounts kept by or for the City. Such audits shall include but not be limited to the examination and analysis of fiscal procedures and the examination, checking and verification of accounts and expenditures. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and accordingly shall include tests of the accounting records and other auditing procedures as may be considered necessary under the circumstances. The audits shall include the issuance of suitable reports of examination so the Council and the public will be informed as to the adequacy of the financial statements of the City.
2. Conduct performance audits, as assigned by Council. A “performance audit” means a post audit which determines with regard to the purpose, functions and duties of the audited agency all of the following:

1. Whether the audited department, office or agency, is managing or utilizing its resources, including public funds, personnel, property, equipment and space in an economical and efficient manner.
2. Causes of inefficiencies or uneconomical practices, including inadequacies in management information systems, internal and administrative procedures, organizational structure, use of resources, allocation of personnel, purchasing policies and equipment.
3. Whether the desired results are being achieved.
4. Whether objectives established by the Council or other authorizing body are being met

3. Conduct special audits and investigations, as assigned by Council. “Special audits” and “investigations” mean assignments of limited scope, intended to determine:
1. The accuracy of information provided to the Council.
2. The costs and consequences of recommendations made to the Council.
3. Other information concerning the performance of City Departments, Offices or Agencies as requested by the Council.
4. The City Auditor shall have access to, and authority to examine any and all documents including but not limited to books, accounts, internal memoranda, writings and tapes, reports, vouchers, correspondence files and other records, bank accounts, money and other property of any City department, office or agency, whether created by the Charter or otherwise, with the exception of the office of any elected official.

It is the duty of any officer, employee or agent of the City having control of such records to permit access to, and examination thereof, upon the request of the City Auditor or his or her authorized representative. It is also the duty of any such officer, employee or agent to fully cooperate with, and to make full disclosure of all pertinent information.

5. Prepare and submit to the Council, in each calendar month, a written report of the City Auditor’s activities and findings in the immediately preceding calendar month, together with any recommendations to improve the administration of the City;
6. Perform other auditing functions, consistent with other provisions of this Charter, and prepare and submit such other reports, as may be assigned by the Council.

Amended at election November 7, 1978
Amended at election November 4, 1986