State Audit Finds Financial Control Gaps at County 911 Center
A Washington State Auditor's Office audit released Nov. 7, 2025 identified deficiencies in internal controls and financial reporting at the Island County Emergency Communications Center ICOM 911 for the period Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023. The findings matter to Island County residents because accurate financial records underpin funding, public oversight, and the long term stability of the county emergency dispatch service.
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The Washington State Auditor's Office published an audit on Nov. 7, 2025 that examined Island County Emergency Communications Center financial activity from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023 and identified weaknesses in internal controls and errors in financial reporting. Among the issues cited were unreported lease arrangements and other mistakes across the financial statements that auditors said affected the reliability and clarity of ICOM 911's reporting.
ICOM 911 is Island County's 911 dispatch agency and operates under a board composed of public safety partners from across the county. The agency handles emergency call taking and dispatch, a function that is central to local public safety and dependent on timely, transparent fiscal management. The audit focused on accounting and disclosure practices rather than operational emergency response performance.
In response to the audit the agency reported that management has made procedural improvements, corrected the lease disclosures identified by auditors, and is investing in staff training and better accounting practices. Those steps signal efforts to address the specific deficiencies the state auditors documented and to strengthen financial controls going forward.
For Island County residents the audit carries several practical implications. Accurate financial statements matter for budgeting and for the county and partner agencies that help fund and rely on the dispatch center. Unreported leases can obscure the size of long term commitments and affect debt and obligation reporting that local officials use when planning resources. Clear and reliable financial information also underpins public trust in how taxpayer funds are managed for an essential public safety service.
The audit report functions as both an assessment and a roadmap for correction. State audits of local governments are a routine part of ensuring accountability and transparency, and the publication of findings typically prompts local action to tighten procedures and improve fiscal reporting. The board that governs ICOM 911, together with Island County financial staff, will be central to implementing and sustaining the improvements the audit recommended.
While the audit highlights past reporting lapses, the corrective steps described by agency leadership aim to restore confidence in ICOM 911's financial stewardship. Residents who follow county budgets and public safety oversight should expect to see follow up through improved disclosures and continued attention to training and internal controls as the agency works to close the gaps identified by the state audit.