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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />2024 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: February 26, 2024 <br />TOPIC: Auditor's Proposal Consolidating Financial Services <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff present the consolidation proposal to financial staff, make necessary <br />adjustments, and return to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) with a space plan <br />and project timeline. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• The Auditor and Public Works (PW) are discussing the feasibility of <br />consolidating financial services into the Auditor's Office (AO). <br />• The pending retirement of the PW Director creates an opportunity. <br />• Management teams from AO and PW have met discussing conceptual lines of <br />authority and support. <br />• Proving BoCC interest, staff will proceed to produce a space plan, formalize lines <br />of authority, and create an initial project timeline. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The AO and PW management teams have met discussing the feasibility of consolidating <br />financial services to the AO. Initial lines of reporting authority, employee site issues and <br />possible timeline for implementation have been discussed. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Initial consolidation of services discussions prompts an elevation to the next levels of <br />discussion. It is time to now engage accountants from the AO and PW seeking to <br />identify all fatal flaws. Management does not perceive any fatal flaws at the present <br />time. The absolute need to house accountants in PW has been defined to the AO and <br />workarounds are being resolved. Management from both organizations believe there is <br />efficiency and resiliency to be gained from the proposed consolidation of financial <br />services. <br />FISCAL IMPACTS: <br />Potential savings in 2024 Finance Division staff budgeting may result from consolidating <br />financial services. PW is proposing that we do not hire the vacant accounting position in <br />PW allowing the AO time to vet need post consolidation. <br />Page 1 of 3 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2024 <br />