From today's Denver Post: "A testy debate over a proposed restructuring of Denver's financial system got more heated Wednesday when City Auditor Dennis Gallagher sent a scathing letter to Mayor John Hickenlooper. The auditor's latest letter criticized the process of the Mayor's Financial Management Task Force. Gallagher said he had not been dealt with in a truthful manner. The Denver City Council is considering changes to the city charter that would move accounting and payroll functions out of the auditor's control. The idea is to make the city function under what are considered 'best practices.' The two sides are supposed to be working toward an agreement on a plan to create a city chief financial officer before a meeting with the City Council on Monday. A spokeswoman for the mayor said Gallagher had canceled a scheduled meeting Tuesday."
Rocky Mountain News: "City Auditor Dennis Gallagher told Mayor John Hickenlooper in a letter Tuesday that he felt blindsided by a proposal to weaken the auditor's oversight of the city's finances. 'Let me start by saying, I am extremely disappointed in the way your staff has dealt with me and my staff regarding changes you wish to make to the city's financial structure,' Gallagher's letter began. At issue is an attempt by the mayor's office to put a measure on the November ballot that would allow Hickenlooper to create a new chief financial officer to consolidate a century-old financial system that is fragmented across several city agencies. A Financial Management Task Force appointed by the mayor five months ago has recommended the CFO take over Gallagher's accounting and payroll responsibilities. The auditor wrote that he opposes surrendering those duties because 'we regularly catch and stop inappropriate or incorrect payment or payroll requests.' Supporters of the changes warn that having Gallagher's office audit its own work poses a conflict of interest. Denis Berckefeldt, the auditor's spokesman, said Gallagher's office has tried to reach a compromise over the issue with the mayor's office, but his staff has been uncooperative."
Category: Denver November 2006 Election
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