State Auditor Releases Island County Accountability Report for 2024 Operations

The Washington State Auditor's Office published an accountability audit of Island County on March 12, 2026, examining the county's use of public resources and compliance with state law throughout the 2024 calendar year. The report, addressed to the Island County Board of Commissioners in Coupeville, covers operations from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

The audit was conducted under RCW 43.09.260, the statute requiring the Office of the State Auditor to examine the financial affairs of all local governments in Washington. According to SAO documentation, the audit involved "obtaining evidence about the County's use of public resources, compliance with state laws and regulations and its own policies and procedures, and internal controls over such matters."

Accountability audits differ from financial audits in scope and focus. The SAO conducts both types of reviews, and the findings in each can diverge significantly. In prior audit cycles, the Whidbey News-Times reported that a financial audit of Island County "identified deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting that we consider to be significant deficiencies," quoting directly from SAO finding documents, while the accompanying accountability audit report found no problems in the areas it examined.

Staff turnover in the office of Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider has factored into prior audit outcomes. Crider's office, which compiles the county's financial reports, experienced a high degree of turnover in a recent past year, and the State Auditor concluded that the instability "contributed to the county reports' lack of accuracy." State auditors indicated at that time they would review the county's progress during the next annual audit cycle.

The accountability questions now surrounding the 2024 report follow a longer pattern. In September 2014, Island County was cited by the State Auditor's Office for "significant deficiencies" in its financial reporting, as documented by Janis Reid in the Whidbey News-Times. Washington counties are required by state law to submit financial statements annually, which the SAO then reviews for accuracy and accountability.

State Auditor Pat McCarthy, whose office is headquartered at the Insurance Building in Olympia, signed the transmittal letter for a prior Island County accountability audit and noted that independent audits "provide essential accountability and transparency for County operations" and serve management, the governing body, and public stakeholders in assessing the government's stewardship of public resources. The SAO's stated mission is to help government "work better, cost less, deliver higher value and earn greater public trust."

The full text of the March 12, 2026 accountability report, including its complete findings and any recommendations directed at the Board of Commissioners, was not immediately available in its entirety. Island County residents and officials can contact the SAO directly at (564) 999-0950 or Pat.McCarthy@sao.wa.gov for a copy of the report, which the office makes available in alternative formats under the Americans with Disabilities Act.