Written by Jane Roush | 31 May 2010

Recently the State Auditor’s Office issued their report on the Puget Sound Partnership (PSP).  I guess I expected the report to be squeaky clean and was very disappointed in the findings by the auditor’s office.

PSP spent money on Apple computers that were not compatible with the state systems, were purchased without competitive bidding or any input from the Washington State Information Services Agency.  They also used funds to purchase items they gave away as gifts in violation of state rules. 

PSP paid a law firm for services without competitive bidding and did not even bother to find out if the state attorney general’s offices could have provided the services. The law firm set up a foundation that would raise private money to assist in the plan of the PSP to clean up the Sound.  The foundation has raised very little money to date.

All of the findings were avoidable if PSP had taken time to implement accounting standards and rules as necessary.  The excuse PSP used was they were a new agency and in a hurry to get things done.  Just send us a fleece jacket, a bottle of sparkling apple cider in a mahogany box or a tube of lip balm is all I say.

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