The San Diego city council is wrestling with how to fund three separate offices that have sprung up to deal with ethics issues at the city. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.
The Ethics Commission was created in 2001 by former mayor Dick Murphy, the Office of Ethics and Integrity was launched last year by mayor Jerry Sanders and the city attorney's office now has an Office of Public Integrity. All are funded with city dollars.
During the city council's budget hearings, councilman Toni Young acknowledged the units each have different functions but questioned if the city can afford separate agencies,
Young: "I appreciate the presentation by each of the three organizations but the question is, is it cost effective, especially during this time of budget crisis."
The director of the Ethics Commission Stacey Fullhorts says she is afraid her office will get overwhelmed with requests for information, audits and investigations.
Joanne Sawyer Knoll of the Office of Ethics and Integrity says she's setting up ethics training for every single city employee. Alison St John, KPBS news
