Business lobby fails in attempt to scuttle expanded power for State Auditor
Legislation brought in response to multiple scandals involving state employees
PIERRE — Legislation introduced by the Attorney General’s Office intended to prevent future scandals involving government employees sailed through the Senate State Affairs Committee.
One of the key pieces of Attorney General Marty Jackley’s legislative package entering the 100th legislative session, Senate Bill 60 would empower the State Auditor’s Office to look into the financials of other state agencies, just like the two other financial oversight entities in Pierre — the Bureau of Finance and Management (BFM) and Legislative Audit — can do.
“There are three opportunities for protection of taxpayer dollars,” Jackley said of the state’s accounting system. “Within the executive branch we have the Bureau of Finance and Management, on the legislative side we have the Auditor General, and then the people’s Auditor. The State Auditor that is elected on the ballot.”
Last year, at least five different state employees were accused, and in many cases charged with, financial crimes involving the theft of taxpayer money. As the state’s top law enforcement officer, the responsibility of investigating the crimes fell to Jackley.
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