PERSPECTIVE-It’s the start of the Holiday season and Controller Ron Galperin is going to check his list to see who has been naughty or nice in the city.
In the case of Brian D’Arcy, the head of the influential IBEW Local 18, the union representing most of the DWP’s workers, it will be an audit checklist which determines if he finds coal in his stocking. Not from the Navajo generating station either.
The very first city audit of the controversial nonprofit trusts, which will start in early December, has already been saddled with a handicap in the form of a restriction as to how far Galperin can look back. Only data from the most recent five years will be open for examination. That’s a limitation almost any CPA would find unacceptable, but Ron lives in the world of politics. With hardly any support from the City Council, several of whom depend on support from the union, he will have to make the best of it.
In reviewing a sample of transactions from the data provided, Galperin will need to consider two benchmarks to determine whether any are inappropriate: those that are permissible under the by-laws and internal policies of the trusts, and those that are in the best interests of the ratepayers.
Do not assume for a moment that the benchmarks overlap.
What may seem perfectly reasonable to the union could amount to poor value for the money to the ratepayers, especially considering the DWP corporate safety program (the trusts ostensibly exist to improve safety) is funded by over $100 million from the utility’s annual operating budget. By contrast, the safety programs managed by the trusts are fully funded by the city’s contribution of $4 million per year – $1 million of which goes to salaries! How many of you would donate to a nonprofit organization that takes 25% off the top for payroll before adding other administrative costs?
To get a sense of how the trusts have been managed and operated, it will be important for Galperin to review the bylaws and minutes from board meetings – including how the trustees voted on important matters, such as determining delegations of authority, key hiring decisions, budgets, approval of financial statements…..
Ron and his auditors should interview past and present members of the boards, the staff, the external auditors and any other contacts of the trusts to gain insight into what are arguably the most covert bodies in the city. Subpoenas may be required and the City Attorney may have to step in.
It will be important to review individual transactions in the context of the entire history – ideally that would amount to all years, but the five-year limitation will make that difficult. The risk is that a one-off event may seem inconsequential by itself, but when combined with others could disclose a questionable trend.
I would be particularly interested in events and transactions that occurred in the formative years of the trusts, but that period is blacked out, and it may take another court battle to get access – that’s assuming the City Council would even press the issue. Given that the City Council approved this substandard audit settlement, one must question the resolve of the members.
Galperin must demand an answer as to why the trusts have $12 million in cash squirreled away as of June 2013, probably $13 million by now. That represents more than three times the annual operating expenses. The trusts are organized under IRC 501c(6) and can support political causes and attempt to influence legislation. $12 million can go a long way in that regard.
I am less than optimistic we will learn enough from the audit, but it may be enough to provide political cover for the City Council. It will provide the appearance of progress, enough to sell to the ratepayers, many of whom may not be informed enough to question the judgment of their council members.
For those who are concerned about transparency and are following this conflict, let’s support Ron by using every opportunity to corner your council member and insist on complete, unfettered access to all records and persons associated with the trusts.
(Paul Hatfield is a CPA and former NC Valley Village board member and treasurer. He blogs at Village to Village and contributes to CityWatch. He can be reached at: [email protected])
–cw
CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 97
Pub: Dec 2, 2014
