Support Charter Review That Makes Sense!
APPROVE Charter Amendment #20
Proposed Charter Amendment No. 20
Concerning a Revised Budget Transparency Process
The Clark County Charter Review Commission adopted Resolution No. 26-10 proposing an amendment to the Clark County Home Rule Charter, concerning a revised budget transparency process. If approved, this amendment would establish a new timeline for the submission of budget information, presentation, and adoption of the Clark County budget earlier than those dates set in Chapter 36.40 RCW.
STATEMENT FOR
A vote for a more open and public budget process is a vote for the responsible, transparent, and efficient use of taxpayer funds. In 2025, the first public presentation of the budget was October 29th and the budget was adopted on December 2nd with almost no public involvement. Most people are engaged with elections and holidays during that time.
The amendment moves some county budget deadlines back slightly and requires the first public presentation of the proposed budget to be made the first week of September, a second presentation in October, and the final budget adoption hearing be held in November. Moving the public presentation to this time will give the people better visibility to the county's almost $900-million budget, give them time to investigate and provide feedback, and give the council more time to consider that input and direct the process.
There is nothing that the county does that impacts the people's lives more than the adoption of the budget and any proposed tax increases required to implement it. The people should have more visibility to the deliberative process and proposed funding so they can make sure the budget reflects the values and priorities of the people.
A budget process that is more transparent and facilitates the involvement of the public will equip us to work together to meet our community's future needs and challenges. Vote Yes on Proposition 20 for budget transparency. For more info, visit www.clarkcharterreview.com
REBUTTAL OF STATEMENT AGAINST
Clark County followed all state required budget adoption procedures last year, and public involvement was minimal. The Council could have encouraged greater public participation but has not. The Charter exists to strengthen local control and already modifies and defines key budget process requirements.
The people deserve greater transparency and accountability, and the Charter is an appropriate place to incorporate these guiding principles. Please review RCW 42.30.010.
Statement for and rebuttal of statement against submitted by:
Peter Silliman, Chair
360.772.2258
Liz Cline
Ann Donnelly
APPROVE Charter Amendment #27
Proposed Charter Amendment No. 27
Concerning Legislative Branch Performance Audits
The Clark County Charter Review Commission adopted Resolution No. 26-14 proposing an amendment to the Clark County Home Rule Charter, concerning legislative branch performance audits. If approved, the amendment would permit the County Council to conduct, or cause to be conducted, performance and program audits to review the effectiveness and efficiency of the programs and operations of the County. Also, if approved, this amendment would require the County Council to establish by ordinance within the legislative branch an independent county auditing process.
STATEMENT FOR
A vote for performance audits is a vote for responsible, transparent, and efficient use of taxpayer funds. This amendment would give the county council, the representatives of the people, the power to conduct audits of county departments or programs as part of their legislative duties.
Performance auditing has been shown to improve the efficient use of funds in government operations. The county auditor already conducts routine audits of county finances. This amendment does not duplicate or replace those efforts. This amendment specifically addresses auditing department operations or programs.
It grants the power to conduct independent audits to the body that approves the budget for those departments and operations, the county council.
Auditing departments or programs for effectiveness should be one of the considerations for continuing a program or operation. Other Washington charter counties have given this power to their representatives and believe auditing is a way to maximize cost savings, improve program effectiveness and efficiency, and maintain best practices.
This amendment gives the council the discretion to define the scope of the audit and determine if a county employee, the auditor's department, or an outside contractor will conduct it. This flexibility will maximize the efficient use of the audit process.
Direct access to information produces better policy and the council is responsible for policy and the budget. Give the council this tool to do it better. Vote Yes on Proposition 27 performance audits. For more info, visit www.clarkcharterreview.com
REBUTTAL OF STATEMENT AGAINST
The Council currently can only request an audit. The auditor isn't required to conduct it.
Charter Amendment 27 does not duplicate any existing financial audits or require any audit be performed. There is therefore no expense added by this amendment. It gives the Council discretionary power to audit a department or program when needed and to choose the most cost-effective approach to do it. More efficient use of taxpayer funds will be the result.
Statement for and rebuttal of statement against submitted by:
Peter Silliman, Chair
360.772.2258
Liz Cline
Ann Donnelly