By Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
TAMPA — Hoping to cut down on embarrassments of the past, Hillsborough County commissioners agreed Wednesday to create a technical committee to supervise the work of its future internal performance auditors.
Commissioners have cut ties with their last two auditors over a host of problems, ranging from poor management skills to sloppy work. They are without an auditor now while a consultant advises them on how to help the office work more effectively.
One of his recommendations was to create a committee consisting of people with expertise in financial and management issues. The committee will be in charge of vetting the auditor's proposed work plan for the year and will review findings for soundness before they are given to commissioners.
In related action, the board also agreed to put restraints on how often members can individually sic the auditor on pet issues. Each commissioner would be allowed no more than three requests for auditor reviews each year and those would be limited to projects requiring no more than 20 hours of work.
Commissioner Rose Ferlita objected to that provision, arguing that individual commissioners should not be able to direct any of the auditor's work without debate and a vote.