Why this matters
Independent auditor offices are designed to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and appropriately. These nonpartisan offices are intended to audit government agencies without any inference or influence from politicians.
inewsource reporter Crystal Niebla contributed to this report.
Chula Vista may create an independent auditor’s office that officials say could improve government accountability.
The city’s Charter Review Commission last month discussed whether to recommend creating the office. Such a move would require amending the city charter, which would require voter approval.
An independent auditor’s office would ensure that officials are spending its roughly $600 million budget efficiently and appropriately. Staff would be hired to perform risk assessments, analyze spending, and investigate potential violations and submissions from an “ethics hotline.”
Other local agencies with internal auditors include San Diego, where the office flagged issues such as the city’s brush management and officials’ handling of 101 Ash Street.
At the San Diego Association of Governments, the independent performance auditor found $1.8 million in revenue losses from disconnected toll road equipment, employee credit card misuse and more.
In a 2023 letter to the commission, the Association of Local Government Auditors recommended Chula Vista create an auditor’s office to “better serve your residents and taxpayers.”
Multiple charter review commissioners expressed support for the office. Chair Jan Buddingh suggested that internal audits could help officials find financial savings.
It’s unclear how much a new auditor office would cost. However, San Diego City Auditor Andy Hanau estimated in an email to the commission it could cost Chula Vista about $925,000 per year for a head auditor position, three to four additional staff and related expenses.
Commissioners will further discuss whether to create a subcommittee focused on studying the issue.
From the Documenters
This story came in part from notes taken by Josh Whitehead, a San Diego Documenter, at a Chula Vista Charter Review Commission meeting last month. The Documenters program trains and pays community members to document what happens at public meetings. Read the note here.
Type of Content
Brief: An account of a public government proceeding, written and edited by the San Diego Documenters.