The Nevada joint money committees on Saturday approved budget actions intended to reduce delays in the State Controller's Office annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) and improve federal reporting capacity.

James Malone, LCB fiscal analyst, told the committee the Controller's Office has experienced multi-year publication delays for the ACFR, citing staffing turnover, pandemic impacts, system limitations and complexities from new Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements. Malone said the report planned for March 2025 still had not been published at the time of the presentation.

To address the backlog, the committees approved Governor's budget amendment A2538861130, providing $489,000 in general fund appropriations over the 2025–27 biennium for a new unclassified deputy controller for financial reporting and position reclassifications. That motion passed by voice vote.

Committee members then considered additional Controller requests for more review capacity. The Controller proposed multiple options including one accountant-to-acting-for reclassification (cost ~$303,341), two such reclassifications (double that amount), a grade increase for accountant 1 positions ($76,441), or a new accountant 3 ($243,494). Assemblymember Pamela Monroe Moreno moved to approve one additional accountant-to-act-for position (option A) and not to approve the other options; the motion carried.

Why it matters: The ACFR is the State's audited annual financial statement. Continued delays can affect budget planning, federal reporting deadlines and the state's credit rating, the fiscal analyst said.

Details and committee direction
The approved deputy controller position was described by staff as responsible for task and workflow oversight so senior accountants can focus on report reviews and auditor coordination. The committee approved the funding subject to classification review by the Division of Human Resource Management and noted any final salary will be set during the pay bill process.

The committee also approved one additional accountant-to-act-for position to increase review capacity in the Controller's financial reporting unit; the committee rejected broader, higher-cost staffing packages in favor of a targeted increase.

Outcome
Both motions passed by voice vote during the committee closing. The fiscal staff were authorized to make technical adjustments as required.