CITY OF ATLANTA BOARD OF ETHICS FY 2018
CITY OF ATLANTA BOARD OF ETHICS FY 2018 BUDGET BRIEFING
Board of Ethics Mission Statement The Board of Ethics seeks to protect the integrity of government and promote the public trust by bringing the City into compliance with the Atlanta Code of Ethics and instilling a culture of ethics in city government. Core Functions • Conflicts of Interest • Financial Disclosure • Ethics Training 2
Ethics Office Overview • The Ethics Officer reports to a seven member citizen board that is appointed by legal, business, civic, and educational organizations. • The Ethics Office is a four-person office headed by the Ethics Officer. • The staff provides ethics training to city officials and employees, gives advice on conflicts of interest and gift rules, investigates ethics complaints, prosecutes violations of the Code of Ethics, manages the financial disclosure system, and coordinates the ethics and compliance hotline. 3
FY 2017 Highlights Continued implementation of the Ethics E-Learning Course. Provided classroom and online ethics training to 3950 employees, board members, and citizens and NPU officers. Issued 108 advisory emails and verbal opinions. Completed 12 ethics investigations; Dismissed 15 non-ethics cases; Opened 14 new cases and collected $5, 295 in fines in ethics cases. Achieved a successful 94 percent filing rate of city financial disclosure forms. Awarded Transparent Diamond Award to 10 city departments and 38 city boards with exemplary financial disclosure filing records. Held citywide Lunch and Learn Session on Conflicts of Interest. Filled Ethics Analyst position. Appointed New Ethics Officer. 4
FY 2018 Key Objectives • Acquire new E-File system and hire new developer; • Conduct audits of financial disclosure forms (Ethics Analyst position filled); • Continue setting sound citywide policies through advisory opinions and ethical guidelines; • Expand citywide training opportunities: – Additional classroom training tailored to fit audience (ethical values based on videos and movie scenes); – Continue our signature Ethics Lunch and Learn Series; and • Complete ethics investigations within six months in 75% of all cases and resolve all new cases within one year of the filing of a complaint. 5
FY 2018 Adopted Program Highlights • Implement new E-File system (E-File 3. 0). • Increase training opportunities for City officials and employees. • Issue or update Formal Advisory Opinions. • Continue implementation of E-Learning Course. • Execute annual “Ethics Lunch and Learn” citywide event. • Improve knowledge and skills of staff by attending professional conferences, researching policies in other jurisdictions and participating in ethics organizations. 6
FY 2018 Budget Overview • The Board is seeking continued funding for a capital project involving the development and implementation of a new EFile system (E-File 3. 0) for the Annual Financial Disclosure process. The current system was initially developed 10 years ago. Our current developer can no longer provide these services effective January 1, 2018 and has recommended that a new system be developed. • For FY 2018, and as a reflection of the citywide accountability function of the Ethics Office (which is similar to that of the City Attorney and City Auditor), the Ethics Board seeks continued direct allocation from two Enterprise Funds – Water and Wastewater Revenue and Airport Revenue – as an alternative means of funding its budget. 7
FY 2018 Budget Analysis Description FY 2017 Adopted FY 2018 Proposed Variance FY 18 FY 17 Personnel Expenses $553, 649 $598, 620 $44, 971 Increase due to personnel adjustments Purchased Professional & Technical Services $132, 711 $140, 292 $7, 581 Increase due to hosting and tech support for E-Filing system, video licensing fees, Integrity Line, investigations, and website maintenance Supplies $21, 080 $22, 480 $1, 400 Increase due to costs related to administration of the financial disclosure process, investigations and training Other Costs/Financing Uses $202, 000 $102, 001 ($99, 999) Decrease reflects remaining costs associated with design and implementation of new E-Filing system Source of Funding Airport Revenue Fund General Fund Water & Wastewater Revenue Fund Building Permits Fund Solid Waste Services Revenue Fund Total $127, 409 $610, 362 $155, 029 $10, 200 $6, 440 $909, 440 $118, 000 $610, 362 $131, 811 $0 $3, 220 $863, 393 ($9, 408) $0 ($23, 218) ($10, 200) ($3, 220) ($46, 047) Source of funding split amongst General Fund, Water & Wastewater Revenue Fund, Solid Waste Services Revenue Fund and Airport Revenue Fund Explanation 8
CITY OF ATLANTA BOARD OF ETHICS www. atlantaethics. org ethicsofficer@atlantaga. gov 404. 330. 6286
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