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Orting council opts to prioritize the state audit; forensic audit possible later
Summary
Council discussed concerns about past spending and whether to commission a forensic audit; members largely favored first asking the state auditors to focus on council-raised issues and then, if questions remain, consider a separate independent audit.
Staff presented options for addressing council concerns about city finances and suggested focusing the upcoming state audit (scheduled to begin in October) on specific items the council identifies. The intent, staff said, is to ask the state auditor to look at areas of concern so the city gets targeted review during the planned audit.
Council members debated whether to rely on the state audit or hire an independent forensic auditor. Councilmember Williams and others noted state audits are cost-effective but questioned whether the state would dig deeply enough. "If we piggyback on the state, it would probably be less economical stress on us," one council member said, while others answered that the state audit is an independent third party with no local stake and should be given a chance to address the concerns.
Several council members said they prefer to wait for the state audit results and then decide whether to commission an outside forensic audit if gaps remain. Staff said they will prepare specific items for the state auditors to examine and will return to council in a future study session with scoping options for any deeper, independent review.
No formal motion to commission an immediate forensic audit was made; council directed staff to follow up with the state audit liaison and bring a scoped proposal back for further consideration.
