Turn City Treasurer Into Money-saving Fiscal Watchdog

Goldman Proposes bold change for Office of City Treasurer to save millions

"When it comes to trusting the people vs the politicians, I trust the people"

(Richmond) - Saying that the "City Council, by admitting the current city budget wastes millions of dollars" has made the case for the need to a truly independent city auditor, Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today. The only way to ensure that "millions more of public money isn't wasted" is to create a "truly independent city auditor not tied to the failed politics of the past."

"City Council concedes there continues to be many millions in wasteful if not worse spending" said Goldman "and yet, while blaming the Executive Branch, they fail to accept responsibility for having voted for the very budget they say wastes all this public money!"

"We need to turn the page on the old blame game and take a new bold approach."

In a statement, Paul Goldman continued:

" In 2003, those of us willing to lead the effort for change created a new form of government for the purpose of bringing needed accountability to City Hall and City Council to end the waste of millions of the people's money.

Based on recent news reports, even City Hall and City Council concede this has not happened almost 5 years later.

Accordingly, we need a truly independent auditor, someone who never has to worry about whether he or she might lose their job due to pressure from the politicians on City Council or in City Hall on account of any audit project.

Therefore, I propose that the City Treasurer be given the city auditor function, thus transferring that legal responsibility to an independently elected official accountable to the people. When it comes to a choice between trusting the people vs the politicians on protecting the public's money, my vote goes to the people of Richmond.

There are no perfect solutions. But Article VII, Section 4 of the State Constitution allows the General Assembly to amend the City Charter to reshape the office of Richmond City Treasurer into a position that includes a truly independent audit function, allowing it to be fearless in doing the type of audits and making the necessary proposals needed to finally stop all this many millions in wasteful spending.

Unfortunately,City Hall and City Council remain stuck in the old politics on this issue, again debating creating yet another old-style bureaucratic entity tonight.

We need to turn the page from this old politics.

The General Assembly has the power to free Richmond from the failed politics of the past and save us millions. During my campaign for Mayor, I will be seeking the support of the people to do just that. If elected, I am confident the new City Council will work with me to make this needed change."

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