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City auditor outlines duties and limits; commissioners press for independence and more staff
Summary
At a Charter Review Commission session, City Auditor Maria Rodriguez described the office’s duties and staffing limits and said she has not used subpoena power; commissioners urged clearer citizen pathways for audits, more autonomy for the auditor, and additional staff to expand investigative capacity.
Maria Rodriguez, the city auditor, told the Charter Review Commission that her office is responsible for oversight of city finances, reviewing the annual budget, accounts payable and credit-card audits, issuing quarterly finance reports and ensuring internal controls are followed. "I follow the charter," Rodriguez said, describing the auditor’s role and noting she began as interim auditor in June 2019 and is now in her second elected term.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed Rodriguez on the office’s authority and resources. When asked whether citizens can request audits, Rodriguez said the charter does not provide for citizen-initiated audits and that internal audits are generally done at the auditor’s discretion or at the direction of city council. She recommended citizens use a public-records ("right to know") request for information. On subpoena use, Rodriguez said, "No" when asked whether she had issued any subpoenas during her term.
Discussion turned to staffing and retention. Rodriguez said the office currently has one full-time employee and an authorized part-time post that’s vacant. She described difficulty retaining part‑time hires and said the last part‑time rate paid was $23 per hour for roughly 20–25 hours a week. "You wanna do more auditing, you will need more people in the department," she said, adding that expanding the office requires council approval for positions and budget.
Several commissioners and public commenters advocated stronger structural protections for the auditor’s independence. One speaker argued the auditor should have "total autonomy independent from the city legislative and administrative" branches so the office can pursue investigations without perceived constraints. Rodriguez and others noted that limited staffing constrains the office’s ability to investigate every concern.
Commissioners also asked for clarity about when the auditor would escalate concerns to administration or council, and whether contracts and consulting spending should be reviewed more closely. Rodriguez said contract details are primarily the administration’s responsibility but said the auditor reviews accounts payable and looks for documentation before payments go out. The meeting concluded with commissioners saying they would take up recommended next steps, including exploring whether charter language or staffing levels should change to strengthen audit capacity.
