Springfield committee launches audit of pilot revenue agreements; auditor to review 15 contracts

The Springfield City Pilot Revenue Committee on April 14 asked the city auditor to begin a formal review of existing pilot revenue agreements and the administration of voluntary payments-in-lieu-of-taxes.

The audit, City Auditor John said during the meeting, will examine current administration and compliance for about 15 pilot agreements and related economic incentive arrangements administered by the Assessor’s Office. "The reason why we're doing this audit for the pilot program is because it was on our annual audit plan," John said. He told the committee the review will look for gaps in policy and practice and produce findings and recommendations to the department, senior management and the committee.

The audit was welcomed by committee members, who said it arrives at a time the committee is drafting a permanent pilot policy and preparing a statement of work from the Collins Center. Committee member Jay Latoury said the Collins Center will submit a proposal and statement of work this week that the committee and councilors can comment on before the city pursues grant funding. "This is their recommendations on how they could partner with us. It's subject to our deciding that it makes sense and the scope is something…