(The Center Square) – In a push for fiscal accountability, members of the King County Metropolitan Council have voted to establish a new Inspector General Division to root out waste, fraud and abuse in county-funded programs.
Council members approved the measure on Tuesday in response to an April 2025 audit that found possible fraud and unapproved payments to vendors contracting with the County Department of Community and Human Services.
According to the audit, two grantees likely altered or forged supporting documents, which may constitute fraud under county policy. Three grantees’ spending deviated significantly from budgets without written approval and six grantees were paid without consistently submitting detailed expense reports.
The County office has a budget of more than $1 billion.
Councilmember Rod Dembowski, who introduced the legislation, framed the move as a necessary preventative measure.
“This new accountability function is a critical step in strengthening our oversight of county-funded programs,” Dembowski said after the vote. “While rare, any waste, fraud or abuse of taxpayer funds is unacceptable. We must work to prevent it, and when it occurs, hold people accountable.”
Councilmember Reagan Dunn emphasized that the new office shifts the county from a passive observer to an active investigator.
“The threat of fraud and waste is not imaginary, and taxpayers deserve to know their hard-earned dollars are protected from it,” Dunn said. “This Inspector General Division finally gives the County teeth to conduct rigorous oversight, pursue independent investigations, uncover improper conduct, and ensure meaningful repercussions.”
The newly created division, housed within the Office of Public Complaints, will wield significant enforcement powers, including the authority to issue subpoenas and directly pursue the recovery of misspent public funds.
The division will be led by an Inspector General Director appointed to a five-year term. The director will oversee a dedicated staff of independent investigators and administrative personnel.
To maintain transparency, the division must issue written findings whenever misconduct is uncovered and submit an annual report to both the County Council and the Executive.
Under the new rules, county agencies will also be mandated to report any suspected financial misconduct through established channels.
Beyond investigation, the legislation seeks to modernize how King County defines and tracks government waste.
It establishes a centralized King County Fraud Hotline, creating a single point of contact for whistleblowers and the public to report suspicious activity.
Additionally, the ordinance updates county policies to clearly define fraud, waste, and abuse, and mandates standardized inspection language in all future county contracts and grants.
Those changes will align King County’s oversight mechanisms with federal Office of Inspector General standards.
Councilmember Steffanie Fain noted that an upcoming implementation plan will focus heavily on prevention.
“Strong oversight isn’t just about investigating fraud, waste, and abuse after they occur. It’s about helping prevent problems before they happen,” Fain said, adding that the framework will provide additional training for employees and clearer reporting expectations.
Funding of around $600,000 to launch the Inspector General Division was secured two weeks ago as part of a supplemental budget approved by the Council. The office is expected to begin its operational rollout following the submission of its formal implementation plan.