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Tenino council signs off on 2023 audit response after debate over accountability
Summary
The Tenino City Council reviewed its 2023 audit findings, discussed a CDBG contract finding and staffing turnover language, and agreed to submit a response to the state auditor using a brief extension; council members debated whether the audit language unfairly blamed employees.
The Tenino City Council reviewed its 2023 audit findings on June 24 and agreed to submit a written response to the state auditor, with Clerk Treasurer Nancy Reddick (Nancy) preparing the letter and seeking a short extension to complete edits. The audit identified two findings: a matter related to the city’s financial statements (including a missing written loan agreement that now has a payment plan) and a single-audit finding tied to a CDBG grant lacking prevailing-wage language in subcontractor contracts.
Nancy, who presented the findings, said she had "a written response to the audit" ready and had asked the auditors for an extension to July 1–2 to file it. She told councilors she could adjust phrasing in the response to avoid implying individual blame and asked council members to email any proposed edits before submission.
Councilor Jeff read aloud a paragraph from the audit’s "cause of condition" language describing turnover in key positions and employees "responsible for financial oversight lack[ing] the necessary experience," and said that phrasing placed undue blame on lower-level employees. Jeff said the council and city management share responsibility for oversight and expected a fuller accounting of what happened. Nancy and others replied that the state auditor’s office is required "by law to hold the city accountable for our financial reporting" and that the report does not name individual employees.
After discussion the council moved to accept the audit report and to proceed with the drafted response; the mayor was authorized to sign and submit the response. Nancy said she would email a draft to council members and try to incorporate agreed edits before filing. The council was also invited to an exit interview with the state auditor’s office where members can raise questions.
What’s next: Nancy will send the response to the state auditor within the extension window; the council may review and suggest edits in the short period before submission. The city also acknowledged the need for continued corrective measures and ongoing oversight of financial reporting.
