A resolution providing amendments to the Charter of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, in accordance with Article 19, Section 19.01, and setting forth a brief description of each amendment to be placed on the ballot.

Whereas, Article 19, Section 19.01 of the Charter of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, authorizes amendments to the Charter by public referendum at a general or special election and provides that amendments may be placed on the ballot through resolution of the Metropolitan Council or through verified petitioner(s) bearing the signatures of ten percent (10%) of the registered voters in the preceding general election; and

Whereas, Article 19, Section 19.01 of the Charter also provides that the Metropolitan Council, having decided that an amendment to the Metropolitan Charter should be considered by public referendum; and

Whereas, Article 19, Section 19.01, requires a brief description of each amendment worded so as to convey the meaning of said amendment to be set forth in the adoption resolution.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 19.01 of the Charter of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, the proposed amendments to the Charter of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, attached hereto, are submitted to the people for approval in the manner provided by Section 19.01 of the Charter.

Section 2. The date prescribed for holding of the referendum election at which the electorate of the Metropolitan Government will vote to ratify or reject the amendments proposed in Section 1 of this resolution shall be August 3, 2006.

Section 3. This resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Amendment No. ________

Chapter 1 of Article 8 is amended by adding the following new section:

Sec. 8.121. Division of metropolitan audit.

A. There shall be, as an independent agency of the metropolitan government, a division of metropolitan audit, the head of which is designated as the metropolitan auditor. The metropolitan auditor shall be a person:

1. with a well founded reputation in government or public finance and the audit function as may be exhibited by a record of exceptional performance for at least five (5) years as a financial officer of a government or business;

2. who has, through education and experience as an accountant, auditor, CFO, controller or principal accounting officer of a governmental entity or private business an understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Governmental Auditing Standards Board standards, financial statements, internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and the audit functions of a governmental entity.

B. The metropolitan auditor shall be selected by the mayor from a list of three (3) persons recommended by the audit committee whom the audit committee deems best qualified and available to fill the position. The mayor's appointment shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the council. The metropolitan auditor shall serve a term of eight (8) years but shall be subject to removal for cause during the term by a vote of 6 members of the audit committee. The first term of the metropolitan auditor will end on June 30, 2014, regardless of whether the full eight years has been served. A vacancy occurring during a term shall be filled temporarily with a qualified acting metropolitan auditor by the majority vote of the audit committee. The filling of the vacancy for the remainder of a term and for any new term shall be by the selection of the mayor through the process provided in this section.

C. The metropolitan auditor shall conduct, or cause to be conducted financial, performance and other audit services following Government Auditing Standards established by the United States Government Accountability Office, and the metropolitan auditor shall follow the independence and other professional standards established and published under Government Auditing Standards.

D. The metropolitan auditor shall appoint and remove, subject to the civil service provisions of article 12 of this Charter, all officers and employees of the division.

E. There shall be a metropolitan audit committee which shall be composed of eight (8) members, as follows: The vice mayor and the director of finance shall be members by virtue of their official positions. Two (2) members shall be appointed by the mayor to serve a four (4) year term except that one member first appointed shall serve a two (2) year term. Two (2) members of the metropolitan county council shall be selected by that body from its membership to serve a two (2) year term. One (1) member shall be selected by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce to serve a four (4) year term. One (1) member shall be selected by the Nashville Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants to serve a four (4) year term except that the member first selected shall serve a two year term. Members shall be eligible to succeed themselves. The General Provisions of article 11, chapter 1, of this Charter shall be applicable to the audit committee unless otherwise specified in this section.

F. The audit committee will oversee the annual audit plan and will review and evaluate at least annually the performance of the metropolitan auditor.

G. All audit reports issued by the metropolitan auditor are public documents and shall at all times, during business hours, be open for personal inspection by any citizen of Tennessee.

FOR THE BALLOT

Amendment No. ________

This Amendment would create a Metropolitan Government Division of Audit. The head of the division would be designated as the metropolitan auditor and the metropolitan auditor would independently conduct financial, performance, and other audit functions. The metropolitan auditor's work would be overseen by an eight (8) member Audit Committee that would also choose and recommend candidates for metropolitan auditor to the Mayor, oversee an annual audit plan, and evaluate the performance of the metropolitan auditor.

Sponsored by: Randy Foster