Police Officers Association requests audit of Columbia’s finances

The Columbia Police Officers Association gave a letter to Mayor Brian Treece on Monday asking him and the city council to perform an audit on the city’s finances.

The letter listed the 2017 Citizen Survey as a reason to call the audit.

Association officials pointed out in the survey it states only half of the citizens are satisfied with the “overall value received for City tax dollars and fees.”

The survey also showed that only 41% of the community were satisfied with the city’s “efforts to meet financial needs/maintain a balanced budget and only 26% of the community were satisfied that the “city government is efficient.”

Officials made note in the letter that most citizens are unwilling to support any new tax proposals.

Officials also pointed out that the city recently purchased additional land for Flat Branch Park but instead of using the park’s budget the city used money out of a budget item that could have been spent on public safety.