We hear it every election season from politicians, “Transparency, Transparency, Transparency!” Then we get this;
The city of Sioux Falls has rejected a request from the Argus Leader to make public an audit report critical of Sioux Falls Convention Center management. Lead Auditor Rich Oksol denied the open records request Tuesday, arguing that the audit is a draft. “When it’s still in the draft stage, it’s still up for the discussion between the person being audited and the audit committee,” Oksol said.
Here’s the deal, if you don’t want to be transparent, then don’t tell us you will be in your campaigns. Most people probably don’t care two shits about the audit (or the fact that the convention center continues to make less money each year while asking to expand). Of course, the councilors (and mayor) throw it in the lap of a city employee;
“Although no precedential case has been found that would decide this issue exactly on point, it appears more likely than not that this draft report is not a public record,” stated Assistant City Attorney Gail Eiesland in a written opinion.
Then she goes on to pass the buck back to the public officials;
Reached Tuesday, Eiesland said the audit committee could decide to make the audit public.
“They have the option to release the record or not,” she said.
Isn’t this how code enforcement turned into such an unconstitutional fucking mess? I’m just saying.
“I think our goal has been to be out in the open as much as we can. In the end, all we are trying to do is to shine light on the practices of different departments and making sure the public’s money is being spent and handled appropriately,” Jamison said.
If your goal is to be open, then release the document and stop shagging the monkey. IMO they are trying to ‘tweak’ the numbers before the public sees the report.
It’s a draft, one that’s being disputed internally by the City & Global Spectrum.
I bet the final report will be made public, if not than you have a valid point.
Once again I agree with Sy. Transparency isn’t an issue with every draft document floating around city hall. If they needed to produce every document ever put on paper nothing would ever get done.
Besides – this is an ongoing audit meaning the final product is currently in a state of flux. There could be items noted that need further review or research and if it were released in the draft stage it could incite all types of concern over potential non-issues that will then need to be explained wasting even more time.
If they fail to release the final audit report then you have some legitimate reason to complain, but lets at least recognize the forest here and not be too concerned about one tree.
Unconvincing argument. A draft environmental impact statement is publicly released. An EIS is an environmental audit. An EIS frequently includes cost-benefit and other financial accounting. The city’s bureaucrats look like they are hiding “who’s shagging the monkey”.
A private company can withhold a draft audit from the public; a publicly held company can withhold a draft audit from public disclosure as integral to fair dealing with all actual and potential shareholders; but there is probably no grounds for a public, government entity to withhold a draft audit from the very public that funds the government.
There is nothing gained by a new administration by withholding the draft audit – since any issues, any problems are historic, attributable to the last administration.
John is right, the only reason they may be witholding the information is so they can tweak the numbers. ‘Draft’ in government means, “We didn’t like how it turned out so we need to change it before the public sees it.”
Audit, blah blah, draft, blah blah, flux,blah blah…If the city really meant it they would write a pissy letter to the editor and cancel their subscription. Quit screwing around.
Yet they pay the AL almost $75,000 a year for public notices and job listings because they are the ‘official paper’ of the city and the AL decries that they are giving the city a deal.
It stinks. First, our convention center charges prime rates to vendors. Then they have the nerve to charge the attendees additionally $5 to $8! Even the vendors complain to deaf ears.
Then you have the one fact that the two prime contractors “mixed” revenue streams. What??? That alone is a big red flag to any truly neutral audit. That alone is usually a sign that there is some unscrupulous practices that might be illegal.
Who here would like to bet that the whole thing will disappear and never be spoken of again like the Multi-Cultural Center???
Like I said, they will keep it a draft until they can tweak the numbers. Reminds me of when they were going to fix code enforcement back in Feb 2009. What has been done? Nothing.
The city lives in a transparent bubble we should poke but not burst. They’d come outside and we’d have politicians and employees mixed into the productive population. Who’s going to pay taxes?
Cut off their air. Contest property taxes and order from the internet (no sales tax).
Ignore code enforcement. They’re not legal because they do not allow court appeals. When they come onto your property, shoot. Without authority, they’re trespassers and thieves. If they want a fee, it’s “your brother-in-law helping you with repairs” (no permit required).
Using Gold or Silver Eagles for purchases is ‘trade or barter’ not subject to sales tax. Receipt is not required. A retail exchange is regarded as wholesale (unprofited) or pilferage (loss against other income). It’s a perfect way for not funding city hall.
Expand this ‘barter’ to real estate and the city has no basis for land valuation subject to tax.
Civil disobedience is the best recourse to defend against tyranny.
I have often said If I ever catch a city employee on my property without permission, I will call 911 and report trespassing.
If you call 911, make sure they dispatch a sheriffs deputy. Police represent unconstitutional city government.
Maybe the FBI instead.