State auditors press for requested positions, warn new bills would require more hires

State auditors told the Appropriations Committee that they need the positions included in their original request to the Office of Policy and Management to maintain current staffing levels and fulfill mandated work.

"So, I mean, the bottom line is we need our original request, that we submitted to OPM, in order to do you know, maintain our staffing levels," an auditor identified in the transcript as John said. John said the office is asking for an additional data analyst position for the first time. Another auditor, Craig, said personnel costs already dominate the office budget: "We we we are, you know, 98 to 99% PS in our budget."

The auditors said they must account for employee accruals and possible retirements, and that recent and potential new statutory requirements could increase workload. Committee member Tim questioned the size of the governor's proposed increase; the auditors confirmed the governor's budget represented about a 3% increase over the prior appropriation and noted roughly $1.4 million in additional funding for the next year and about $900,000 the following year, largely for staffing and equipment.

Why it matters: Auditors said bills before the legislature could substantially increase the office's workload and require more hires and hardware. The auditors cited specific pending measures they said would change their workload, and warned that without additional appropriations they would have to prioritize federal audit requirements and pick among state requests.

During questions, the auditors pointed to two pieces of pending legislation they said could require more staff for performance audits of Medicaid; the transcript records these as "Senate Bill 1120" and "Senate Bill 1122." The auditors said those measures would likely add work that could require six additional staff at various levels if enacted.

The auditors also outlined how expected retirements and a need for additional hardware factor into their requests. John said there is at least one confirmed staff departure expected next year and that the office cannot predict all accruals until the fiscal year ends. The auditors said they would lapse funds if expected departures or costs do not materialize.

Committee members asked about specific line items noted in the auditors' submission. The auditors confirmed an extra $28,000 for information technology in the second year and reiterated that the office is largely constrained by personnel-service costs.

The discussion did not produce a committee vote during the recorded segment. The auditors said they had submitted testimony and procurement updates for auditing software and were available to answer further questions.

The committee chair closed the auditors' portion of the hearing after members' questions and said the auditors' request had been received.