Town Budget - Does Anyone Really Understand It?

Last week's little dust-up between Mark Mayoka and Cuthbertson regarding the 2011 budget only highlighted the fact that not only did these two have no idea what they were talking about, but how little everyone else in the town knows about where their money is going.

Many municipalities across the country have built-in agencies that scrutinize expenditures thereby assuring the public that someone is watching over their money.  For example, right next door, New York City has a Bureau of Audit that releases its  "findings and recommendations to the public to inform it of how City government is working."


Probably the best part of this department is the Bureau of Management Audit that, "is primarily responsible for conducting performance audits of City agencies, public entities, and contractors doing business with the City.  Performance audits assess programs, operations, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, economy and efficiency audits help to determine whether agencies are protecting their resources and employing them economically and efficiently. Performance audits also determine the degree to which agency programs, activities, or functions attain mandated results or expected benefits."

Huntington has no such department in its' Comptroller's office.