The Collin County Observer

Yesterday, the Collin County Commissioners did not approve their Auditor's request for a $5,000 software program needed to audit the county's large "enterprise" software systems. In his presentation to the court, Mr. Cozad said he needed the $5,000 ACL program in order to be able to examine, in real time, the veracity of the data that filtered down into the county's financial statements.

The commissioners closely questioned Cozad, a member of his staff and IT Director Caren Skipworth on the usefulness of the ACL software and on the difficulties in implementing the new audit procedures.

According to Skipworth, the Auditor would be required to get written permission from each elected department manager before he would be allowed to access their data. Cozad would also have to get permission and assistance from the IT department to set up each of the databases. The IT department would also require that the Auditor could not directly view the departmental data tables, but would have to use a replicated copy, even though the ACL program is designed for auditing and only views and does not interacts with the data it is looking at.

Wow!

After much discussion, Judge Self stated he would put off the vote until the court returned from executive (secret) session. However, when the court reconvened, no action was taken on Cozad's request.

One of the items listed for the executive session was a discussion with the lawyers on the county's appeal of Collin County vs. Collin County Auditor.

A month ago, the commissioners court refused to approve the same software package because the IT department had not evaluated it yet. This time, Ms. Skipworth had reviewed ACL and she told the court that the Auditor's use of ACL would enhance his ability to monitor the data, tables and permissions for the largest of the county's software systems. These large systems represent huge investments, over $20 million. The largest are Odyssey, which is used in the courts, and PeopleSoft? which is used by the HR department.

It boggles the mind that a supposedly independent Auditor is expected to grovel before those whose work he is supposed to verify.

I wonder, is he also required to kneel and beg, "Please, please can I look to see if you are stealing from the taxpayers? Please, please can I look at your work to see if your numbers are right? Please, please let me keep you honest."

Did this commissioners Court learn their management skills at Enron?

Bill

Notes:

Documents:
Cozad's letter to Judge Self and the Commissioners Court, dated November 25, 2008

Judge Calhoun's Final Judgment, dated October 15, 2008.

Collin County's Response to the Auditor's and intervenor's first traditional motion for partial summary judgment, August 4, 2008

Sworn Affidavit of Caren Skipworth, August 1, 2008

Don Cozad's request for Attorney General's opinion, dated April 3, 2008.

Coverage by the CCO and press:
Auditing - Collin County style, CCO January 22, 2009

Who gains from the county's suit against its auditor?, CCO November 18, 2008

Turf battle costs taxpayers over $300,000, CCO, November 9, 2008

Expensive turf war with taxpayer dollars grinds on, CCO, August 13, 2008

County auditor won’t have to answer deposition questions - McKinney Courier-Gazette August 12, 2008

Officials meet today in court over county's suit against its auditor, Don Cozad - McKinney Courier-Gazette August 11, 2008

Auditor alleges county Open Meetings violations - CCO June 11, 2008

Auditor asks for an attorney - CCO June 9, 2008

Who authorized the suit against the Auditor? - CCO May 28, 2008

County seeks declaratory judgment against auditor - McKinney Courier Gazette May 23, 2008

I protest yet another secret meeting - CCO May 20, 2008

Who's watching the store? (And the disk drives?) - CCO April 26, 2008