Commissioners,

Thank you for voting to protect the Controller's budget. As the City's chief accountant and auditor, it's essential that the Controller be empowered and independent.

After years of cuts, the Controller is currently underfunded with just 0.29% of the General Fund. This only allows for 7 auditors and 5 fraud, waste and abuse investigators for the second largest City in the County.

Despite these restrictions, the Controller's FWA unit was able to expose a $23 million fraud case related to a homeless provider not meeting contractual obligations and providing fake invoices.

Adequate resources would allow the Controller to provide robust oversight, helping to restore trust in government.

To empower the Controller to carry out the office's charter-mandated duties, we ask the Commission to support the Controller's recommendation for a budget of no less than 0.42% of the General Fund.

Less than one half of one percent of the General Fund is a small price to pay for transparency and accountability.

Thank You.