For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Salmon, CPA, CFE
Vermont State Auditor
February 2, 2012
802-828-2281
State Auditor expresses concern over Burlington’s failure to respond to Financial Management Questionnaire
MONTPELIER – In testimony before the Vermont House Government Operations Committee Tuesday, State Auditor Tom Salmon expressed concern over the failure of the city of Burlington to respond to a request for information about its management of cash and internal controls.
The auditor’s office has sent a list of questions about financial controls to more than two dozen entities in Vermont that receive state funds, including municipalities, school districts, a regional development authority and a solid waste district. On January 3, he sent Burlington such a request. Burlington is the only entity that has failed to respond.
Salmon told the committee that a short financial management checklist was sent to City Council President William Keogh. A more detailed long form was sent to Scott Schrader, interim chief administrative officer.
“At a time when there is increasing concern over the handling of public funds, and especially in light of Burlington’s recent track record,” Salmon said, “It’s a little surprising that Burlington would continue to be aloof on the issue of financial accountability.”
Salmon said the auditor’s office stands ready to assist all municipal entities with financial or performance issues and will be pleased to do so in Burlington if requested.
For more information or questions, please call 802-828-2281.
Permalink |
Yikes. Not another press release!
Is it really necessary for Mr. Salmon to be in the press every single day?
Mr. Salmon’s use of the word “aloof” is curious. The implication is that the city council and administration aren’t concerned about financial accountability. In fact, they’ve been consumed by it for several years and Mr. Salmon’s uninvited intrusion is unneeded and unhelpful.
In addition, this is the second time in recent months that Mr. Salmon has publicly criticized the City. For anyone else, this wouldn’t be a big deal. But the Auditor’s Office is conducting a legislatively mandated TIF audit and one of the cardinal rules of auditing is objectivity. Can anyone possibly view the Auditor as objective regarding the City of Burlington? And if he was really trying to help, he would communicate privately instead of talking to the media at every opportunity.
In light of the extent of Mr. Salmon’s public relations schedule, one has to wonder how much work he’s doing.
Permalink |
“Is it really necessary for Mr. Salmon to be in the press every single day?”
Maybe not. But did you make the same complaint when Fast Eddie Flanagan held a daily press conference as state auditor? Just wundrin.
Permalink |
First, name calling is juvenile.
Second, Mr. Flanagan had press conferences to announce audit findings. Mr. Salmon issues press releases to discuss whatever is on his mind that day and it often has nothing to do with audits.
Recently, he has spoken about Entergy and criticized policy decisions by the Governor and legislature. These comments were not about audits; they were his personal opinions. And he also took it upon himself to tell the Public Service Board how to do its job (as he did when he wrote an ex parte letter to a judge last year).
In addition, he offered his views on tax policy but had no supporting evidence from an audit and spoke erroneously about the economic situation (suggesting that he had done no research on the matter but was just repeating sound bites).
It is clear that Mr. Salmon finds his current job description too confining. If so, he should seek another job.
Permalink |
“First, name calling is juvenile.”
You should check your past posts.
Second, Fast Eddie was Freyne’s name, not mine.
Third, are you 100% sure that Ed Flanagan’s almost daily press conferences were always and only to announce audit findings? I don’t think so. If that were the case, that’s an awful lot of audits.
Is there a double standard being applied here by a former candidate for the auditor’s office, esp. one who himself spouts off regularly on blogs, no matter what the subject is?
Permalink |
The City of Burlington is already audited by independent Public accountants. If the state suditor wants to find their evaluation of the city’s internal controls all he has to do is ask to read the audit.