Gordon Forgey

Washington state auditors recently attempted to audit the Whitman County financials for 2012.

They were unable to complete an actual audit, reporting that there was not enough information to even conduct one.

Thus, all they could conclude was that serious problems exist.

Once again the county just doesn’t know where it stands financially. Some of the inaccuracies and discrepancies the state auditors uncovered are staggering.

Obviously, bad financial controls and faulty financial information continues to plague the county.

One thing is for sure: The problems appear to be too deep and too fundamental for a piecemeal approach. It appears that there is no simple solution. It appears that there is no quick fix.

It is time to do some thinking.

What the county needs is a plan on how to get out of this mess.

The county commissioners have, in fact, asked for just that. They want Auditor Eunice Coker to give them such a plan. So far she hasn’t provided one. Her answer is to add more staff.

Wisely, the commissioners want a comprehensive plan first. They have promised the necessary resources to the auditor once a plan is developed.

This is not the time to pump in more people. It is time to think things out first.

Systemic and structural problems need to be identified before more people are thrown at the books.

It is a legitimate position. It is a simple, intelligent and responsible approach.

Attacking symptoms is not the same as diagnosing and curing the disease.

Without doubt, this is the time for some thinking.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher