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When Democrats get to freely spend - they waste the money.

from https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/damning-audit-begs-the-question-who-is-protecting-taxpayer-interests-in-king-county/

rCyDamning auditrCO begs the question: Who is protecting taxpayer interests
in King County?
Aug. 29, 2025 at 2:44 pm
An auditor’s report of the King County Department of Community and
Human Services was a devastating portrait of an administration in free
fall, all against the backdrop of the election of a new county executive
this fall, writes the editorial board. King County Councilmembers
Claudia Balducci, left, and Girmay Zahilay are running for county
executive. (Ellen M. Banner and Ivy Ceballo / The Seattle Times)
An auditor’s report of the King County Department of Community and
Human Services was a devastating portrait of an administration in free
fall, all against the backdrop of the election of a new county executive
this fall, writes the editorial board. King County Councilmembers
Claudia Balducci, left, and Girmay Zahilay are running for county
executive. (Ellen M. Banner and Ivy Ceballo / The Seattle Times)

An auditorrCOs report of the King County Department of Community and Human Services was a devastating portrait of an administration in free fall,
all against the backdrop of the election of a new county... (Ellen M.
Banner and Ivy Ceballo / The Seattle Times)More
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By The Seattle Times editorial board
If there was ever a wake-up call for local government, this is it.

In a disturbing report released Tuesday, the King County Auditor
determined that grant funding from the countyrCOs Department of Community
and Human Services ballooned from $22 million in 2019-2020 to more than
$1.5 billion in 2023-2024.

Along with that massive growth, the auditor discovered improper
payments, including potential fraud, across multiple contracts.

It was a devastating portrait of an administration in free fall, all
against the backdrop of the election of a new King County executive this
fall.

Change canrCOt come fast enough.

First, letrCOs compare the $1.5 billion in social service spending
examined by the auditor with a recently enacted 0.1% sales tax increase.
The Metropolitan King County Council passed the new regressive tax last
month because budget shortfalls had put sheriff deputies and prosecutors
at risk.

This is the way of local governments around here: Basic functions go
hungry while the funding of community groups continues at such a
reckless pace no one can properly keep track of the dollars.

Among the reportrCOs findings: Auditors determined DCHS made improper
payments with little oversight. DCHS conducted fiscal site visits to
only 2% of grantees in 2022 and 1% in 2023. The departmentrCOs own
standards called for meeting 33% of grant recipients to ensure they
complied with county rules.

rCLAccording to interviews with management-level staff, DCHS culture may signal that relationships (with grantees) are more important than accountability,rCY wrote auditors. rCLThe DCHS staff we interviewed rarely expressed concern about fraud risk.rCY

One organization spent at least $439,000 on subcontractors despite its
budget allocating subcontractor payments of only $63,000. Another
organization submitted an expense report that likely includes $10,000 in duplicate expenses due to four $2,500 checks being recorded twice.

And it goes on.

What was the reaction from council members during the briefing?

Unbelievably, several expressed concern rCo for those taking the publicrCOs money.

Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda chided auditors presenting their report
for using the term rCLhigh riskrCY to describe organizations with little experience and limited capability to properly manage government grants.

rCLThe title of rCyhigh riskrCO is not necessarily appropriate,rCY she said, preferring instead the terms rCLinitial investmentsrCY or rCLseed capacity.rCY

Councilmember Sarah Perry wondered how the county could help
organizations rCLwe have in some way harmed rCa so they are not penalized by our lack of attention.rCY

Say what? Who is protecting taxpayer interests here?

Governing is hard work. Administering public funds is hard work.
Nonetheless, if it wasnrCOt for the fact that the King County ExecutiverCOs Office is running on fumes in the dying days of former Executive Dow ConstantinerCOs fourth rCo fourth! rCo term of office, someone should lose their job or have the decency to resign.

As it is, Constantine decamped for Sound Transit earlier this year and
itrCOs time to focus on the future.

Both candidates now running for executive heard the auditorrCOs report.

Councilmember Girmay Zahilay asked how fast DCHS could implement the auditorrCOs recommendations. He offered no reaction when told key changes
may not be made until 2027. That is simply an embrace of the status quo.

Taking a different tack was Councilmember Claudia Balducci, his opponent
in November.

rCLWerCOre talking today about basic financial management. And when we donrCOt provide basic financial management internally and with our community
partners, money is wasted. And that is just unacceptable,rCY she said.

Noting the rather subdued response by her council colleagues during the auditorrCOs briefing, Balducci added:

rCLOne of the things I love most about this government is werCOre a very low drama government here. IrCOve been listening to this whole conversation rCo the questions, the answers, the community rCo itrCOs all been very professional.

rCLBut make no mistake, this is a damning audit. And we need to take it
that way, and we need to make sure that we are on top of doing something
about it, understanding the full extent of challenges and fixing them.rCY

Balducci earned The Times editorial boardrCOs endorsement for a reason.

King County voters, choose wisely.

The Seattle Times editorial board: members are editorial page editor
Kate Riley, Frank A. Blethen, Melissa Davis, Josh Farley, Alex Fryer,
Claudia Rowe, Carlton Winfrey and William K. Blethen (emeritus).


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