I was shocked at the City Council's proposed legislation for increased audits of city agencies for several reasons ("Baltimore voters to be asked to approve more frequent agency audits," July 18).
First, voters already approved a 2012 measure requiring audits of 13 city agencies every four years. According to the article, only three of those audits are complete. At approximately one audit per year, the initial audits won't be complete for 10 years.
Second, I agree with City Councilman Eric T. Costello, the bill's chief supporter, that more frequent audits are needed and indeed just plain good management. Perhaps the horrible situation at the Department of Housing involving sexual favors for repairs might have been prevented, sparing those poor women and saving the city many hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The current audit requirement is the responsibility of the Finance Department. So who is in charge of this and why aren't the audits complete? The council could make sure that current audits are completed. Why is legislation required at all? What does the audit department do? The City Council could make sure that current legislative audits are complete.
There should be annual audits of every city department with no exceptions. Councilman Robert Curran suggested an exception for the Health Department since 80 percent of the financing comes from grants subjected to rigorous auditing standards. Sorry, but grant oversight isn't city oversight.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake supports the legislation. Robert H. Pearre Jr., the city's inspector general, endorsed legislation after finding "several internal control weaknesses across the city departments and agencies." Comptroller Joan M. Pratt agrees that audits "every four years is outdated." The City Council supports the legislation.
If legislation is necessary to increase the frequency of audits or to change the responsibility from Department of Finance to Comptroller's Office or create an oversight commission, then put it on the ballot for approval. In the meantime, the City Council and others should do their jobs. They should all be ashamed.
Suzanne Moran, Baltimore