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Legislative auditors report surge in hotline reports; employee survey flags training and retaliation worries
Summary
The Legislative Audit Division—ound hotline submissions rose from 81 (FY23) to 160 (FY25). The biennial employee survey shows reporting rose to 34% but cited fear of retaliation and belief nothing will be done as top barriers; the state will pursue training and follow-ups.
The Legislative Audit Committee heard on Wednesday that Montana—raud, waste and abuse hotline submissions almost doubled from 81 in fiscal 2023 to 160 in fiscal 2025.
Ken Barnes, legal counsel for the Legislative Audit Division, told the committee the hotline now receives tips through montanafraud.gov, email, phone and text and that the volume of reports has increased markedly. He said the division had jurisdiction over 62 cases in the most recent year and that most reports are forwarded to the agency with primary authority to investigate.
The committee also heard the results of the division nnual fraud, waste and abuse survey of state employees. Amber Robbins, the division nalyst who presented the results, said the share of employees who said they reported firsthand knowledge of fraud, waste or abuse rose to 34% this cycle from 25% previously. Robbins said the top reasons cited for not reporting were fear of retaliation and a belief that nothing would be done. She said more than half of respondents either said they did not receive training on reporting or did not know whether they had.
Barnes reviewed several substantiated hotline investigations, including cases involving two tribe-administered grant awards that auditors found lacked documentation of completion and refunds as required, verified misuse of a university-issued state credit card and a case where a legislative employee bypassed procurement rules. He said some referrals are non-jurisdictional, such as matters better handled by federal agencies, and that the division is working to close the loop on referrals more consistently.
Why it matters: the increase in volume and the survey—indings pose a management challenge for state agencies and the legislature. Committee members pressed for clearer agency reporting back to the division on referral outcomes and for stronger training so employees know how to raise concerns safely.
What—omes next: the division said it is building hotline improvements into its strategic plan and will pursue better reporting on referrals and training requirements in follow-up work.
