Council directs finance director to prepare public response to published budget findings amid calls for independent review

Council considered a staff recommendation to authorize the finance director to prepare a written response to Council member Audette's published budget findings and to release that response publicly. The item followed public controversy and social-media circulation of the published findings; council discussed whether the finance director's response should be released immediately via press release and website, or scheduled as a future agenda item for in-person discussion.

Several speakers in the public urged a thorough review and either an independent external audit or a focused independent review of process and internal controls. Council members debated the merits and cost of an external audit versus staff-prepared responses. Some council members favored releasing the finance director's written response to the public with time to review prior to a separate agenda discussion; others asked that the presentation be scheduled for council consideration so the public and council can ask questions.

The council passed a motion to authorize the finance director/treasurer to prepare a written response and release it via direct communication to council, the city website and a press release, and also agreed that the matter could return for further discussion and potential follow-up actions, including targeted audits if needed.