The Pierce County Performance Audit Committee has released its 2011 Annual Report, which focuses on Juvenile Court, the Criminal Justice Dashboard, Human Resources and natural resource lands management.

“Performance audits provide our citizens good value for money spent with improved government efficiencies and fiscal savings to taxpayers. One audit in 2011 identified $500,000 in savings related to staffing and operational costs,” said County Councilmember Dick Muri (District 6), chair of the audit committee. “Performance Audit Committee meetings are open to the public and televised, and findings are posted on the web for easy viewing.”

Under authority from the County Charter, the Pierce County Council conducts performance audit work designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of county government. The Performance Audit Committee sets the direction and focus of the audits, which are conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards.

Besides Muri, other committee members are County Councilmembers Dan Roach (vice chair), Rick Talbert and Joyce McDonald, as well as county Budget and Finance Director Gary Robinson and citizen member Andrew Tedesco.

Audits and other information are available at http://www.piercecountywa.org/performance-audit .