Baltimore Comptroller: Audit Bill Would Increase Wasteful Spending

Claims the city does plenty auditing already

Arguing that a proposal for increased city audits would result in duplicated efforts and wasteful spending, Baltimore Comptroller Joan Pratt and City Auditor Robert L. McCarty have submitted a letter to members of the City Council asking them to amend the hotly debated audits bill, which is set for a vote Monday evening. 

"Much of the work that is performed each year … is the same work that would be performed in the audit of agencies," Pratt and McCarty wrote, arguing the city already conducts an annual financial audit that covers all agencies and doesn't need a second outside firm also to do so. "Therefore, it would be a duplication of effort and expense to have this work performed again. This would neither be a cost-effective nor efficient use of taxpayers' funds."