City auditor promises transparent, unbiased reports

Springfield's new internal auditor is assuring the public that her job will be as transparent as possible.

At Monday night's City Council meeting, City Auditor April Lathrom presented council with her General Audit Program and Independence Statement, both of which were responses to citizen requests to see in writing the processes her office will use to examine city departments and operations.

The General Audit Program lays out the steps Lathrom will follow when auditing an internal department, from preliminary research to staff interviews to follow-up reporting and the chain of command.

The Independence Statement ensures that Lathrom or anyone else in the city auditor's office is not biased or swayed in any way when performing audit functions.

"These items clarify to everyone that I am independent - we tell everyone that they need to document that, so I'm holding myself to that same standard," Lathrom told council.

Mayor Pro Tem Gary Deaver was impressed by the thorough nature of the document.

"The finance committee has been working with the internal auditor to develop processes that allow her to maintain her integrity and independence," Deaver said. "This is a form she uses on every audit she does, to remind herself and those being audited of her commitment we have to an independent audit."

Council is expected to vote on the proposal at its April 6 meeting.

Lathrom also will speak to council at the council luncheon today to provide an update on the progress made in responding to State Auditor Susan Montee's 2007 city audit. Lathrom told council Monday that the city has addressed 51 of the 53 items laid out in the audit; the remaining items are the Police and Fire Pension Fund liability and the creation of an overall economic development policy for the city.[[In-content Ad]]