Sound Politics: Pork of Seattle

January 04, 2006

Pork of Seattle

"Port of Seattle spending slammed in state audit"

The Port of Seattle has spent thousands of dollars on causes it shouldn't have supported and kept records so poorly that employee theft at the airport might have gone undetected, according to a scathing audit.

The complete audit is here. And this is just an accountability audit. Now that we have performance audits, we should be able to learn even more about how effectively (or not) the Port of Seattle is using its property tax subsidy.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at January 04, 2006 11:35 PM | Email This

Comments

1. This is THE problem with government, and why govt. needs to stay small. NOBODY (really) owns the port, so nobody cares what the money situation is. I wish someone there on the port commission would care. they presumably ran because they claimed to care about these things.

If this were a private business, someone would know what's going on with the $$. You'd better believe someone would know....

Posted by: Michele on January 5, 2006 12:23 AM

2. What a read, and these are the same people who say they do not need audits in this state.

One employee charged 1200 in water testing equipment, sold it to other employees, and he is STILL WORKING THERE???????????

Amazing!!

Posted by: GS on January 5, 2006 12:48 AM

3. There was a well made infomercial on last night promoting the astounding return on investment of freight movement and ports.

Tax Payer funded koolaid stand anyone?

Posted by: Andy on January 5, 2006 12:36 PM

4. Hara: "I'm not sure the port's in the housing business"

Not sure? Really??? Here's a little moral clarity for him---I'm not even a commissioner and EVEN I KNOW that they are not (! Perhaps I should have run for Port commission, as a lot of this couldn't be more clear that they are non-Port activities and the $$ never should have been spent so recklessly.

Posted by: Michele on January 5, 2006 01:19 PM

5. Oh, and the Port's budget needs to be cut by about $504,000.

Posted by: Michele on January 5, 2006 01:20 PM

6. Port of Everett is in the housing business. It is illegal, but after all, it is a port and they are above the law.

Posted by: baffles on January 5, 2006 01:44 PM

7. Oh, wow. This is a real bombshell. I am shocked- shocked- to find out that this has been going on in the Port of Seattle.

Does anyone want to lay odds on anything changing with the current administration? Anyone?

Posted by: ERNurse on January 5, 2006 02:02 PM

8. Intersting that the date on the report is September 16. I wonder how this would have affected the outcome of the November elections if it had been released back then?

Posted by: Johnny on January 5, 2006 09:50 PM

9. If you think something your local governmental agency is doing is illegal, send a complaint to the state auditor's office. They will look into it.

Posted by: Johnny on January 5, 2006 10:00 PM

10. "One employee charged 1200 in water testing equipment, sold it to other employees, and he is STILL WORKING THERE???????????"

It helps if a relative is an elected County official.........

Posted by: Patrick on January 5, 2006 10:03 PM

11. If the "performance audit" is honest, it will show that the Port of Seattle has a hugely bloated payroll. Their productivity per employee is horrible. They have too many employees. They have gold crusted benefits. They do all of this at the expense of taxpayers.

But, I wouldn't expect an honest performance audit.

Posted by: BananaLand on January 5, 2006 11:19 PM

12. Wait until King County gets its performance audit ! I predict that there will be some (not all) areas that stink to high heaven. I'd like to hear how the various government agencies fare in their performance audit. The upside is the money will have to be more wisely spent and taxpayers will get more bang for the buck !

Posted by: KS on January 7, 2006 11:23 AM

13. Bananaland,

Exactly, "If the "performance audit" is honest . . . "

Posted by: Amused by liberals on January 8, 2006 03:19 PM