Democrats to Seek Watered-Down Internal Audit Function

 

Hello, Yupette,

While the County Board majority (Fisette, Hynes, and Tejada) seemed to agree with Board Member John Vihstadt on April 16th about going ahead with implementing an independent internal audit function in County Government, what they actually will agree to is an Internal Auditor who will not be independent and who will be a 'team player' in the County Manager's Office.

While Vihstadt is seeking an independent Internal Auditor who has received certification by the Institute of Internal Auditors (check it out on the Web), the County Board majority, County Manager's Office, and Arlington Democratic Party are fearful that any internal auditor or auditors that adhere to IAA's standards of ethics and objectivity will discover and reveal the extent the of the County Board / County Manager fiscal irresponsibility, including non-adherence to accounting standards, lack of objective criteria (cronyism), mismanagement, and fraud.

County Manager Donnellan and Finance Director Cowan refused to answer direct questions by County Board member Libby Garvey about TIF funds related to Crystal City and Vihstadt's questions about transportation funds related to the Pike streetcar on April 16th.

The County Board and County Manager will attempt to reach an agreement about an Internal Auditor for County Government over the next several months.

2100

FY 2015 Budget Motion/Streetcar - JEV

Hello,

This is the verbatim motion made during the April 16th County Board/County Manager FY 2015 Budget Work Session by County Board Member John Vihstadt, seconded by County Board Member Libby Garvey, and defeated by a 3-2 vote, County Board Members Hynes, Fisette, and Tejada voting against:


(1)  No funds shall be expended in the FY 2014 or FY 2015 operating budgets for the purpose of furthering, either directly, or indirectly, a streetcar on Columbia Pike or in Crystal City, except to the extent that such expenditures are required to meet contractual or other legal obligations entered into by the County prior to the date of this motion;

(2)  Within 30 days, County staff shall provide the Board and the public with a complete and transparent accounting of all funds contained in the FY 2014 and FY 2015 budgets that are intended , either directly or indirectly, for either the Columbia Pike or Crystal City streetcar project; and

(3)  Within 60 days, County staff shall recommend to the Board and the public alternative uses of all such funds designated for the Columbia Pike streetcar, provided that: (1) no funds shall be used to support streetcar funds in any other corridor; (2) a substantial portion of any funds derived from the Transportation Capital Fund or any other source dedicated solely for transportation uses shall be designated to improve existing bus service on Columbia Pike, including, but not limited to, improvements consistent with the TSM-2  proposal contained in the County's 2012 Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Assessment for Columbia Pike; and (3) a substantial portion of any funds not dedicated solely for transportation uses shall be used for the benefit of Arlington County public schools.


Cindy

Vikstadt, Garvey Motions Defeated to Defund Streetcars, Crystal City TIF. Independent Auditor Will Go Forward.

 Hello,

John Vihstadt delivered tonight on campaign promises to stop construction of the proposed Columbia Pike and Crystal City streetcars by offering a 3-part motion to: 1) Defund any County Government expenditures in FY 14 and FY 15 for Columbia Pike or Crystal City streetcar systems 2) Provide the County Board and the public with a full and transparent accounting of all FY 14 and FY 15 funds intended directly or indirectly for the Pike or Crystal City streetcar project 3) Task County Staff with recommending alternative uses of funds dedicated to the Columbia Pike streetcar so a) No funds be used for any streetcar project in any other corridor b) A substantial portion of any funds dedicated solely for transportation will be used to improve bus transportation on the Pike c) A substantial portion of funds not dedicated solely for transportation will be used to benefit Arlington's public schools.

For her part, County Board Member Garvey offered a motion to prohibit using TIF funds for Crystal City Infrastructure. According to County Staff, a Crystal City streetcar system and other Crystal City infrastructure would consume hundreds of millions in TIF funds, which would be debited from the General Fund accounts over the next decade.

Both motions were defeated by a 3-2 vote (Fisette, Hynes, and Tejada voting against), after acrimonious accusations by County Board Members Tejada and Fisette that Vihstadt and Garvey aren't going along with a previous County Board's program.

On a more positive note, John Vistadt's campaign promise to bring an Independent Auditor to County Government appears to have been accepted by all County Board members and is going forward.

Cindy

Latest AHIF-AHC Pike 'Affordable Housing' Purchase - A Huge Charade

Hey Yupette,

Maybe you saw the discussion at Saturday's County Board meeting, followed by the County Board's (with the exception of John Vihstadt) vote to approve Arlington Housing Corporation's purchase of the Serrano Apartments on Columbia Pike. Maybe you read Post reporter Patricia Sullivan's report in Sunday's Post about the purchase. Maybe you saw local residents who attended the County Board meeting voice their opposition to more affordable housing in the Columbia Pike corridor. What a charade.

But you can see for yourself by doing a Web search on 'Serrano Apartments Arlington'. Then read the staff report for Agenda Item 35 on the County's Web site arlingtonva.us.

The Serrano Apartments 'affordable housing'? Affordable for whom? Entry-level CIA employees. Recent law school graduates. Creative Class Yupsters who've been living in a townhouse with three roommates and just received a big promotion.

Turns out that, of the 280 well-maintained and recently modernized units at the Serrano, exactly 28 are affordable to persons who earn 60% of Area Median Income as defined by HUD ($107,000 in 2014). So 60% of $107,000 is $64,200. The rest of the 'affordable' units, there are 196, will be rented to persons earning 80% of AMI or. $85,600 per year. The other 56 units will be rented at market rate. How much do you have to earn per week if you are employed full-time to earn $64,200 and $85,600? About $1,235 and about $1,646.

How much does someone earning $10 and employed in one of the restaurants or retail shops in a mixed-use redevelopment approved by the County Board in recent years? About $20,800 per year, or $400 per week.

It gets worse. Limo Liberals from VOICE didn't bother to complain, much less attend Saturday's County Board meeting. 'Affordable Housing' in Arlington is a huge charade, and many different organizations get to play leading roles.

Pike Rider 22204