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Hillsborough County Referendum - For all voters

Advocates say an auditor for county commissioners would be a resource; opponents say another office would be a waste.

By DAVID KARP, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 31, 2002

Should Hillsborough County commissioners get their own auditor?

That's the question voters will decide Tuesday in the only referendum amending the county charter on the ballot.

Advocates say an auditor could help the elected, seven-member commission analyze the budget and find waste in county government.

Opponents say commissioners would use the auditor to punish enemies and politicize issues. They say commissioners don't need to create a new office to do something they already can do.

If the referendum passes, the commission would hire the auditor after establishing professional qualifications for the job. The auditor would be prohibited from getting involved in politics, except for voting.

The referendum doesn't say what the auditor would cost taxpayers. The commission would set the auditor's budget.

Now, the county administrator, who is hired by the commission, can assign auditors to examine departments. The new internal auditor post would be different because it would report directly to commissioners.

"It will just be a valuable resource in helping them do their job," said businessman Ralph Hughes, a leading advocate for the change.

The commissions in Palm Beach and Broward counties both have auditors, which have "paid off handsomely," Hughes said.

Critics say commissioners will use the auditor to conduct witch hunts.

"There is the potential for the majority of county commissioners to play politics with the administrator," said Steve LaBour, a Charter Review Board member who opposes the change.

Clerk of the Circuit Court Richard Ake does financial audits for the commission. Because the clerk is elected by voters, he is independent.

But the clerk doesn't do performance audits, which are what the commission's auditor could do. The clerk could do the performance audits if the county funded his staff, but Ake said he doesn't really want to get into the field.

"I don't know whether I'll vote for it or against it," Ake said.

BALLOT QUESTION

AMENDMENT: To amend the Hillsborough County Charter; providing for the appointment, removal, qualifications, compensation, and duties of the county internal performance auditor; who will advise and assist the board of county commissioners as a budget analyst and by conducting studies of the operation of county programs and services and including the office of county internal performance auditor in the charter section prohibiting certain political activities; providing for an effective date.

Yes for Approval

No for Rejection

Campaign 2002