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Balducci: Passage of Inspector General ordinance key step to ‘earn the trust of the public’

July 7, 2026

King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci on Tuesday issued the following statement after council approved legislation establishing a new Inspector General division to increase oversight of county funds and contracts:

“As elected officials, it is our duty to steward public funds responsibly and earn and keep public trust. A key part of that is having concrete systems in place that make it clear who is accountable for reviewing and maintaining rigorous contracting standards. These systems are critical to minimize the risk of possibility of fraud, waste, and abuse of taxpayer dollars and maximize our ability to provide the services and programs that our constituents rely on. That’s why I authored an earlier amendment to our Auditor’s work plan that requires a full review of all DCHS contracts.

“Today, I’m glad we’re taking another step by instituting an Inspector General function within King County. This step will provide significant new resources and authority for responding to complaints of fraudulent use of county funds and abuse of authority in contracting. All of these steps will help us as King County Councilmembers to remain committed to continued oversight so that we can earn the trust of the public through responsible governance.”