tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post4511045839173174298..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Reflecting on the AuditMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42458709978833651722012-09-25T00:08:04.519-07:002012-09-25T00:08:04.519-07:00It's actually a great lost. The State revisor ...It's actually a great lost. The State <a href="http://vistas.dk/" rel="nofollow">revisor</a> just showed that something is going wrong with those government agencies.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02747194110993123679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-41573184719082544362011-02-01T11:21:48.788-08:002011-02-01T11:21:48.788-08:00Well, I can tell you with authority that after the...Well, I can tell you with authority that after the Port of Seattle audit, the Port Commission went on steroids. Now when they say jump, staff asks "how high?" The school board has been cowed by MGJ's "governance" vs. "management" BS since day one. C'mon Board, grow a pair! Hire a consultant to advise you on Board Reform by taking a look at the Port model. YOU are accountable to US. MGJ is accountable to YOU.<br /><br />pissedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68058912596026387792011-02-01T09:48:20.603-08:002011-02-01T09:48:20.603-08:00None of this should come as surprise. Most PUBLIC...None of this should come as surprise. Most PUBLIC capital projects go over budget and are rife with poor accounting practices, and lack of oversight. Why do you think people are so mad? I am fed up with it as well and feel like a prized idiot for voting for school levies (or any levies) everytime these audit reports come out. <br /><br />As long as we keep throwing our public money away, we cannot improve our schools, roads, or other major infrastructure. We will have piecemeal white elephants like Garfield, the Tunnel, etc. standing alone with no connection to the crumbling schools and roads all around us.<br /><br />The Board has never been able to put a brake on any of this. Heck they can't even get basic questions answered when they bother to ask the questions. The waste of our tax dollars is a systemic problem that reaches to Olympia and beyond. When I look at it that way, it is all pretty depressing. Where do you begin to tackle it?<br /><br />ThriftyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88080743150470104232011-02-01T09:10:16.469-08:002011-02-01T09:10:16.469-08:00You might take a look at the December Board Memo r...You might take a look at the December Board Memo regarding award of yet another GC/CM contract. It runs totally counter to the audit findings. A complete and fully negotiated contract is NOT provided to the Board. Same ole same ole. <br /><br />My point on the monthly? Everybody likes pretty pictures. I see where staff blows off providing meaningful updates to the Board. Well, when changes exceed a cumulative threshold they must ALL be presented to the Board, do not pass go, do not stop at the Oversight Committee. The Board is supposed to hold the purse strings.<br /><br />On time and on budget, SURE, when you keep extending the time and increasing the budget.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88952473941913064492011-02-01T08:32:09.259-08:002011-02-01T08:32:09.259-08:00Mirmac 1, keep in mind, they went over budget by d...Mirmac 1, keep in mind, they went over budget by double on Garfield (and over budget on other projects as well but they always love to say "on time and on budget"). <br /><br />Your point on the monthly report? You should see how staff dismisses that one. There really isn't anyone minding the store.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87803316731822160742011-01-31T23:17:43.343-08:002011-01-31T23:17:43.343-08:00$2 million? That would point to a 5% screw up fac...$2 million? That would point to a 5% screw up factor. Considering project contingencies for changes are generally 10%, the District is batting .500.<br /><br />Other agencies with strong boards and commissions demand periodic updates on large capital projects. One insane fact from the audit is the construction manager's monthly report didn't mention schedule or actual vs. budgeted costs! What DID they report on? Maybe it had alot of pictures.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.com