Audit Findings: King County Construction Management

The Washington State Auditor's Office released an audit of King County's Construction Management practices with the following five findings:

1. The lack of adequate performance measures and expectations prevent the King County Executive and Council from providing adequate oversight of construction activity.
   
   
2. King County does not have an adequate construction project management information system.
   
   
3. King County does not have standard construction management procedures.
   
   
4. King County construction management data, files and records are not consistently maintained and are not readily accessible for management oversight and review purposes.
   
   
5. King County does not provide resources that are adequate to enable the Executive Audit Services to comply with County policy requiring construction management audits.

Early this year, the State Auditor's Office terminated what began as a performance audit because the County was unable to provide the records necessary for the auditor to perform their review. The audit report released on June 22, 2009 reports on the information obtained by the auditor before the termination of the performance audit.

The auditor stated that "We believe the recommendations provided...may enable the County to better enforce project completion deadlines, liquidated damages and minimize overall construction costs."

The audit also addresses other County operations unrelated to construction management.

The following are resources about the audit:

1. Read the complete audit report along with the auditor's recommendations and the County's responses.
   
   
2. Visit King County's website to read the County's summary response to the audit and their disagreements with the auditor.
   
   
3. See what the SeattlePI.com has to say about the audit.
   
   
4. Visit the Puget Sound Business Journal's website to read their report of the audit.