(Editor’s note: City Controller Alan Butkovitz called me and complained that this story is misleading and that Brett Mandel either doesn’t understand the job of the Controller or is purposefully misleading the public into believing annual audits are not being done by the Controller’s Office. Butkovitz says, financial audits are done on every department once a year but that performance audits (which are more extensive) are done on an as needed basis. I have invited Butkovitz to submit a rebuttal in his own words, since accounting standard practices are not always easy to understand.) added 4/22/09 2:34pm.

Is Philadelphia’s City Controller shirking his duties? Under the City Charter the city’s financial watchdog is supposed to audit every department, board and commission at least once a year.  Brett Mandel who is running for the Democratic nomination for City Controller says incumbent Alan Butkovitz is not in compliance.

In this KYW story, Mandel says “Right now, this city controller is acting as if he’s the decider.”

Butkovitz says he’s doing audits based on which departments pose a higher risk of fraud to the city.

While that sounds nice, it does say on the city controller’s website that the Controller’s Auditing Unit reviews each department on an annual basis.

This unit is responsible to audit at least annually:
The affairs of every officer, department, board and commission receiving appropriations from City Council.

What do you think? Should the Controller’s Office be given leeway in deciding which audits are done first?

fyi: Upcoming City Controller Debates

Monday, May 4th at 6:30 pm
University of Pennsylvania
Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street
Philadelphia (map)

Thursday, May 7th at 7 p.m.
John Perzel Community Center
2990 St. Vincent street
Philadelphia (map)