CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FIFTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. F/S O-22-55 ENACTMENT NO. __________________
SPONSORED BY: Brook Bassan, by request
ORDINANCE
title
F/S Amending The City Inspector General Ordinance, Chapter Two, Article Seventeen Of The Revised Ordinances Of Albuquerque (Bassan, by request)
BODY
WHEREAS, instituting dedicated funding for the Office of Inspector General sends a strong signal that the City of Albuquerque is committed to independent, objective, and unbiased evaluations of government programs and practices that promote accountability and integrity in government; and
WHEREAS, dedicated funding insulates the Office of Inspector General from political interference, and provides stability by ensuring more equitable and reliable funding for the investigation function; and
WHEREAS, recurring budgets are funded each period to support the current level of service, while non-recurring budgets are typically created for special purposes and through the City's normal budget process for city departments, the Office of Inspector General's annual budget has averaged nearly one-thirteenth of one percent (0.076%) of the City's overall recurring General Fund budget since fiscal year 2012, when the Office of Internal Audit and the Office of the Inspector General were operationally separated; and
WHEREAS, the demands on Inspectors General are increasing and the salaries offered are not keeping pace; and
WHEREAS, the Accountability in Government Oversight Committee should have the ability to ensure the salary for the Inspector General is maintained at a level commensurate with the responsibilities and at a level consistent with other city departments with comparably skilled professionals; and
WHEREAS, the ability of the Office of Inspector General to obtain independent legal counsel prevents potential, perceived, or actual conflicts of interest that may arise due to the City Attorney's client relationship wi...
Click here for full text