DeKalb committee advances plan to hire independent CIP monitor, sends resolution to full board without recommendation

DeKalb County's Finance, Audit and Budget Committee advanced a resolution to create and fund an independent monitor for the county's capital improvement program and agreed to forward the item to the full Board of Commissioners without a committee recommendation.

The resolution, introduced as item 0240, would establish roles and responsibilities for a monitor to oversee implementation of the county's Capital Improvement Program and (if needed) amend the fiscal year 2025 budget to fund the position and necessary staff. Committee members discussed a revised draft that adds whereas clauses tying the monitor's work to the county's consent decree projects and attaches a detailed scope of work (Attachment A).

The law department's representative said the updated draft adds language that the monitor will receive professional support from the Office of Internal Audit, including the potential use of subpoena power if necessary, and that the procurement process will include the Office of Internal Audit on the RFP panel. The draft also calls the position a "monitor" rather than an "auditor," a change requested by Director Campbell to reflect duties that differ from a traditional financial audit.

Commissioner Marita Davis Johnson described extensive discussions with Mr. Campbell and said the draft resolution incorporates recommendations from Ted Reinhardt, the Office of Internal Audit and the law department. Legal counsel said further edits are expected and that the resolution may omit a budget amendment if staff confirm funding already exists in the FY2025 budget.

Committee members agreed the change from "auditor" to "monitor" could broaden candidate interest and better align responsibilities with existing audit functions. Director Butler and other administration officials said procurement timelines depend on the final scope; procurement staff estimated a typical process could take 90 to 120 days but emphasized that estimate depends on the scope and other participants.

Rather than voting on the final resolution, the committee approved a motion to send the item to the full Board of Commissioners with no committee recommendation, allowing additional review by administration staff, internal audit and legal before final board action. The chair called for a voice vote; committee members responded "aye," and the motion carried.

The committee discussed a placeholder of $800,000 in the watershed budget for this purpose but emphasized that the amount was a placeholder and the final contract may be multi-year and set by the procurement process rather than fixed at that figure.

Next steps identified by the committee include further revision of the resolution and Attachment A, review by the Office of Internal Audit, the Office of Management and Budget and the county CFO, and return to the committee or placement on the full board's agenda depending on whether outstanding issues are resolved in the coming weeks.