House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 6, 2017 09:22 AM
From:	Representative Seth M. Grove
To:	All House members
Subject:	Allowing the Auditor General's Office to Conduct Forensic Audits (Former House Bill 1248)

The Auditor General’s office plays an important role for taxpayers of Pennsylvania. This office which works as a fiscal watchdog provides financial accountability to the taxpayers with state and local government agencies. An example of this function has been the Auditor General’s role highlighting the commonwealth’s municipal pension crisis. As state pension costs are expected to rise over the next few years, the auditor general’s office will need additional resources to pay increased pension costs. In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation which would empower the Auditor General’s office to save unused taxpayer money into a Rainy Day Fund. This fund would not exceed 10% of the office’s overall budget nor be held against the office’s total appropriation in the following fiscal year. The money deposited in this fund would go to cover the increase of general operating costs. In addition the money would be used to conduct any forensic audits requested by the General Assembly or the governor. These audits strengthen the role of the Auditor General office as a fiscal watchdog providing law enforcement with financial information for investigations into the misuse of taxpayer funds. By empowering the Auditor General’s Office to save taxpayer’s money and wisely budget, based off of expected costs, the General Assembly has ensured the office will continue acting as a fiscal watchdog. Please join me and co-sponsor this legislation which works to strengthen the accountability and oversight of taxpayer’s money through Auditor General’s Office. If you have any questions please contact Jordan Grant by phone at 717-767-3947 or by email at Jgrant@pahousegop.com Previous Sponsors: V. Brown, Murt, Millard, Ellis, James, Rozzi, Cutler, Bloom, Phillips-Hill, A. Harris and Cohen.

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