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It's all about value for money

For the most part auditor generals hold a soft spot in the hearts of Canadians. Through their hard work and tenacious tracking over the years, Canadians have had to face up to a number of shocking scandals particularly at the federal level.

For the most part auditor generals hold a soft spot in the hearts of Canadians.

Through their hard work and tenacious tracking over the years, Canadians have had to face up to a number of shocking scandals particularly at the federal level.

Sheila Fraser, who just retired from a decade as Canada's Auditor General, revealed the sponsorship scandal in 2004, which rocked the Liberal government and changed the political landscape for good.

In her report she found that senior public servants had broken just about every rule in the book and that nearly $100 million had been funneled to Liberal-friendly Quebec advertising and communications firms who had little to show for it.

Then again in 2006 we learned through an audit that the former ombudsman of federal inmates, Ron Stewart, had "often skipped work and collected $325,000 in improper or questionable salary, vacation pay and expenses during his 14-year tenure."

Of course auditors can also put the fear of God into any of us if we happen to be subject of their scrutiny.

So it is with mixed emotions that I consider the fulfillment of a promise made by Premier Christy Clark to set up a watchdog to monitor the cost of civic governments in B.C.

There is little doubt that most municipal leaders won't warmly embrace the idea of having someone scrutinize their spending.

This week Whistler council, as well as other municipalities across B.C., is being asked to complete a survey on the issue for the province.

As taxpayers it is something we should embrace. I'm not suggesting that that there is any wrongdoing at muni hall, but neither can we ignore some of our spending choices - such as the nearly $12 million library (Whistler Public Library FCM Project completion report June 2009). Don't get me wrong, I love the library and use it frequently, but $12 million?

I hesitate to mention the development of the pay-parking lots and what about Whistler's contribution to "garage mahal" - $11.7 million of a $23 million facility, which many believe is twice the size needed for our community.

It's all about value for money.

For each of these items we have seen the spending reports and there is always more to them than meets the eye, always more than just the words in the report.

But at the end of the day these choices affect all of us and those who will make Whistler their home in the future.

The idea of a municipal auditor is not new. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has been pushing for transparent spending for years along with a better explanation of how tax dollars are spent.

"We believe it's a fair question, given the rate of operating spending at the municipal level now outpaces that of growth and inflation by nearly 100 per cent," said Shachi Kurl, director of the CFIB in a recent column in the Vancouver Sun .

"We think it's fair, considering municipalities are squeezing business owners for property taxes nearly three times what residential owners pay."

The CFIB's third annual BC Municipal Spending Watch found that municipal operating spending across the province grew twice as fast as inflation and population growth.

It found that Whistler's per capita spending was $5,418 with operating expenditure growth from 2000 to 2008 up 77 per cent. By CFIB calculations, if Whistler's excess spending, that's spending beyond inflation and population growth, in 2008 had been eliminated a family of four would have saved $6,407.

The figures also have to be understood in an Olympic framework though. The town was in full ramp up mode to the Games in 2008.

The idea of a municipal auditor is also supported by the BC Chamber of Commerce.

"While we recognize that many local governments face challenges providing services with limited financial means, the simple fact is that in community after community spending decisions are made and taxes set with little to no involvement by the public and no effective oversight," said John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce.

"As with every level of government it is critical that the public has information to ensure that the taxpayer interests are protected and that elected officials at all levels are held to account, an Office of the Municipal Auditor General would achieve this goal while respecting local autonomy."

For now there are many more questions about the concept than there are answers, the main of these involve considering how the office would be paid for and how it could possibly deal with the accounts of all municipalities and districts in B.C. in a timely manner. In essence, will taxpayers be getting value for money from this new office?

But there could be an upside for local government as well if the office is successful for it's likely audits would uncover best practices, which could be shared amongst local governments. And perhaps they will even reveal funding shortfalls from more senior levels of government - there is little doubt that downloading has impacted municipal governments after all.

The timing of a municipal auditor office is likely to work in taxpayers favour since elections are coming Nov.19.

As we continue to hear from more people running for council we should also be looking at who is standing up for transparency as we consider our vote.