North Carolina has a $41.6 Billion per year State Budget with nearly $21 Billion of that money coming directly from our taxpaying citizens to support the operations of State Government.  State Government funding covers programs including education, human services, health care, transportation, highways, environmental protection, correction, courts, farming, labor, insurance, commerce, and cultural affairs.

The size, scope, and complexity of the State's budget is enormous and the Office of the State Auditor is the one public official who is to certify the accountability and responsibility of those funds. Clearly in the past four years, we have seen more political scandal and corruption than we have seen in recent history. Yet, little has been done to strengthen the Office of the State Auditor.

If elected State Auditor, I will work diligently with the Legislature and Governor to get additional resources for the office to increase the number of accountants, auditors, IT professionals, and investigators to strengthen the level of accountability in State Government. I will ask the General Assembly to provide funds to create a special audit team in the Auditor's Office that will focus solely on performance audits.

It's clear to me as well as most North Carolinians that we must make sure we are getting our money's worth from state funded programs. Reducing waste and abuse will save millions if not billions of dollars that could be returned to taxpayers or spent on improving our schools, roads, and health care systems.

We need a State Auditor who will show up for work and work to represent the people of North Carolina. The office is more than just looking at assets and liabilities. It's about making sure the people are getting their money's worth, that the programs being funded are still relevant, and that the money being spent is done wisely, honestly, and ethically.

PRIORITIES IF ELECTED

INTERNAL PERFORMANCE AUDIT TEAM

If elected, I will create a special performance auditing team composed of experienced accountants, auditors, IT professionals, and investigators who will focus on how well programs are performing, identify wasteful spending, overlap and duplication of services, and assess the continuing relevancy of selected programs. If we could curb State Government spending five percent, that could create nearly $1 billion to give back to the people of North Carolina or to invest in our schools, roads, and health care systems.

DEVELOP REAL-TIME MONITORING PROGRAMS

It is imperative that we be able to identify potential problem areas, shortcomings, and inefficient operations well before they reach a crisis point. If elected, I will work to develop a method where these issues are more likely and quickly to be identified thus allowing managers in the Executive Branch to take corrective action more quickly. I will work with the State Controller and the State Treasurer to look at state program spending to determine problem areas as they develop and not one year after the fact and after millions of dollars have been wasted. If Fortune 500 companies such as Bank of America, Wachovia, and Lowe's can have real-time financial and performance oversight and accountability, surely the State of North Carolina can do the same.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

If there is one area in State Government that needs more oversight and accountability it's our IT sector. While much has been done over the years to improve coordination of IT programs and services, much remains to be done to ensure that our tax dollars are spent efficiently and wisely and that all services and programs are well coordinated. Millions of dollars are wasted each year because of questions regarding coordination of IT services. Too often auditors and audit reports are well behind the implementation of new IT equipment and requirements which means money is wasted and there is little to be done except to issue a report telling the department not to do that again.

We can save money by being proactive in IT services. As State Auditor I will work with the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of State Government to coordinate IT programs and services in an effort to streamline service, accomplish IT needs, and save North Carolina taxpayers money.