Auditor-Supervisor Trial Continues: Supervisor Explains Why She's Suing the County Auditor

Linn County Auditor Joel Miller he didn't know why the Linn County Board of Supervisors wouldn't let him appoint a person in his department to audit county finances.

To him, the idea of giving someone the power to check potential financial fraud would save the county money and carry favor with residents currently frustrated with government.

However, when Supervisor Linda Langston was put on the witness stand today in the court battle between the Board of Supervisors and the auditor, she said she didn't think someone with that job description should answer to the auditor.

The trial between the and continued in the afternoon. The trial is expected to last three days.

"I told (Miller) that, while I was not inherently opposed to the proposition of an internal auditor, I had a couple of problems," she said.

For one, she said the auditor's office is so large the person appointed to do the auditing would not have enough incentive to thoroughly audit it. Specifically, the large facilities department is under the auditor's office umbrella, she said.

And, she said several certified public accountants and experts told her that such an auditor would ideally report to county executives or boards of supervisors.

Miller has said that he believes that whistle-blower protection laws are sufficient enough to protect against any conflict of interest.

Miller said he feels that auditing is an implied duty of his position.

"They call it a county auditor for some reason," he said in the morning session of the trial.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the trial as it continues this week.

Let us know who you agree with or, if neither, what you think about the lawsuit.