For the first time, the public is getting a look at an internal review of the state auditor's office. MPB's Ashley Norwood reports on the findings of an internal and external compliance audit.
State Auditor Shad White made a few promises when he was appointed to the office by Governor Phil Bryant in July. Topping his list of priorities: conducting the agency's first-ever internal audit.
"The experts that we've had in our office they've never done an audit of our own office. That's one of the reasons why when I came in I wanted them to look at our agency just as they would any other agencies so that we would be held to the same standard that we hold other agencies to. And two, so that we would know ways to improve what we were doing," said White.
White says he also brought in a team from outside the state to review his office. He says the findings of both audits show no proof of misspending or misappropriation, but some improvements are needed.
"Things like making sure that we've got all the proper documentation when we use those credit cards that you use to procure goods or services for the state government when we need to purchase... Need to do a better job of making sure that all of our paperwork around state-owned vehicles was submitted in a timely way," said White.
Shad White says this means the office was strong before he stepped in. The 32-year-old Harvard law school graduate was appointed to replace Stacey Pickering, who left the agency to run the state's Veterans Affairs Board. White says next on his list is to work with legislators this session to develop laws that create more accountability for state agencies. Ashley Norwood, MPB News.
