State auditor asks legislature to shift small‑government review costs to general fund, seeks cybersecurity and staffing funding

State Auditor Josh Galley told the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Government Operations Division that House Bill 1004 would convert two special‑funded positions to general fund and restore several operating lines to help the State Auditor’s Office expand training and transparency services for small local governments.

Galley said the change would eliminate the practice of billing small towns and other political subdivisions for certain audit and review services and estimated the conversion cost to the general fund at about $380,344 in his original request (OMB adjusted the number to $412,845 during the budget process). He told the committee that shifting the funding would save hundreds of dollars a year for many small local governments and allow the office to focus more on education and support.

Why it matters: The Auditor’s Office reviews roughly 1,100–1,400 small governments and currently charges for small‑government review services. Converting the two positions to general fund would remove that direct fee and, according to Galley, free staff time to provide training, extend the Office of Good Government services and reduce the financial burden on cash‑strapped local entities.

The office’s other requests…