Frequently Asked Questions

There are many ways for agencies to provide information and input depending on whether you are in agency leadership, an audit liaison, or a staff person. Agency leaders are kept in the loop by their audit liaisons but should feel free to contact the audit supervisor or county auditor at any time (see information for agency leadership here). The audit liaison will meet with the auditors regularly; usually every two weeks. These check-ins often include previews of issues auditors see emerging from information they have collected (see information for audit liaisons here). In some cases, as we near the end of fieldwork, there will be meetings called “data placemats” in which the audit team will share preliminary data and get agency perspectives on what it means. Agency staff may contact auditors at any time to share information or ask questions. In some cases, we may refer agency staff back to leadership to answer questions.

You will see report drafts at least two times before the Council and public have access to the report. The first will be the “Technical Review Draft” and the second will be the “Executive Review Draft.” This page clarifies the differences between the two drafts and how you can engage with each. You will have the opportunity to formally respond (concur, partially concur, non-concur) to the Executive Review Draft. The FAQ for concurrence gives more detail about this part of the process. The County Executive or elected leader of the audited agency provides a letter of response that we incorporate into the final report.

Kymber Waltmunson has been serving King County as Auditor since 2013 and the office itself since 2008. She previously served as the Snohomish County Auditor. She is an appointed, independent official and reports to all nine Councilmembers. The office serves the interest of the public and provides information that supports the King County Council in its responsibilities.

Yes, County Code (KCC2.20.65) says that the auditor will have unrestricted access to people, property, and records. That said, we are friendly, curious people and are looking forward to talking to you. We will work with you to make our connections with you as easy as possible and avoid negatively impacting the important work you do for the County.

The auditor will want to talk to you and your supervisor separately to gain different types of information and perspectives. If you think that your supervisor may be a more appropriate person for us to talk with, please share that with us.

If you would like to protect your anonymity let us know and we can discuss our options and the limitations based on public records laws. We do not put the names of individuals in reports. We tend to see issues as problems with systems rather than people and focus on identifying ways to improve those systems.

We want to know if we are headed in the wrong direction. Please let us know and show us why you think this is the case. Auditees frequently give us new ways to think about information, and we welcome it. There are times that we may differ in the conclusions we draw based on the body of information available.

No. If you don’t have information we ask for let us know. We always encourage making your strategy and process more robust at any point in the audit process and can discuss next steps when you are ready.

When audits have worked well, auditees have taken on a mindset of continuous improvement and have worked closely with the auditors to get helpful results. You can help make this a positive experience by asking questions, communicating early and often, identifying what benefit there is for your organization and working toward those things. You can find more information for agency leaders and audit liaisons.

No, there are several alternate products that can result in some circumstances. For example, if timing isn’t right for a full audit the auditor may choose to write a “preview letter” or an “issue letter.” These products have different formats and processes that align with their purposes. Your audit team will explain what to expect if one of these alternate products will be applied in your situation.

King County charter section 250 and King County Code 2.20 provide more information on the parameters of the office. You can also reach out to the audit team at any time with your questions.