The Advocate’s discovery that Athabasca County council timesheet discrepancies are more widespread than those initially noticed in Jack Dowhaluk’s timesheets raises a few questions: namely, who should be responsible for ensuring councillors are billing the taxpayer correctly?
Some councillors have said administration should play a greater role as watchdog; others have said it is up to councillors to be more careful.
The answer likely lies somewhere in the middle.
The majority of councillors in whose timesheets the Advocate found discrepancies responded promptly and thoughtfully to the news. County Reeve Doris Splane was upfront about the issues in record-keeping and asked for patience while council works those issues out.
No matter what changes council makes, it should make clear to the public exactly how those changes will improve accountability and exactly who is responsible for enforcing them.
