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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Why pay for audit?

I read with interest and amusement the front-page article in the Feb. 6 issue of the Spokesman-Review entitled “City gains $700K after phone audit.”

The interest coming from the fact I was the chief tax accountant for Avista Corp. (then Washington Water Power) when the 6 percent tax gross up issue was resolved approximately 25 years ago. The amusement came from the fact that the city found it necessary to give up 25 percent of its proceeds to a consulting firm for finding this tax revenue.

Had I known that the city of Spokane was willing to pay consultants so lavishly to cherry pick audit issues with the phone companies that the city itself should have been totally aware of makes me think I should come out of retirement and hang up my shingle. I would have been happy to teach the issue to the city for a fraction of what it paid.

Bob Hanson

Spokane

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