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Balducci damning DCHS contracting audit: ‘It’s time for Council to take actions to restore trust and accountability for local government’

September 16, 2025

Following Tuesday's King County Council briefing on legislation co-sponsored by Councilmember Claudia Balducci (Ordinance 2025-0266) to strengthen contract management and compliance protocols within the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), Balducci released the following statement:

“The proposed ordinance before us is a good start, but now is the time for action. I’m preparing a package of systemic reforms that go beyond this ordinance and include actions that can be implemented immediately, without waiting for change in executive branch leadership.

“Today’s follow-up conversation was essential. The County Council has both the opportunity and the obligation to restore public trust while delivering for the people who need us most in King County.

“I look to bring forward these additional actions, including budget proposals, as we continue to respond to the audit findings.” 

Councilmember Balducci’s proposals to strengthen accountability and rebuild trust in King County’s grantmaking system include:

  1. Establish a guiding principle that sets the highest value on restoring and maintaining public trust. 
  2. Designate a dedicated audit function within the Executive branch to oversee implementation of best practices and directives from the audit. 
  3. Set clear deadlines for action to ensure timely and measurable progress.
  4. Require a comprehensive internal audit to assess the full scope of contracting issues, recognizing that the current audit reviewed only a small fraction of existing contracts.
  5. Report on prior audit findings, like the 2023 Seabold report , and clarify what was learned and implemented to prevent repeat failures.
  6. Increase financial oversight commensurate with the increase in grant funding 
  7. Protect support mechanisms for nonprofit contractors, ensuring they are not burdened by unnecessary red tape.
  8. Strengthen conflict of interest rules and practices to safeguard integrity across all levels of county government.
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