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Inspector General’s office reports $37 million in recoveries, seeks $647,309 and five new positions
Summary
The Inspector General’s office told a legislative subcommittee it recovered about $37 million last fiscal year, issued 112 findings (100% implemented), and is seeking $647,309 in recurring funds plus five senior positions to handle increasingly complex school and forensic investigations.
The Inspector General’s office told a legislative subcommittee it recovered about $37 million during the last fiscal year and issued 112 findings and recommendations that agencies have implemented at a reported 100% rate. The agency said it conducted seven high-impact investigations requested by the General Assembly and the State Superintendent of Education and carried out eight proactive risk assessments and six serious-misconduct investigations of executive-branch employees.
The office said it is currently funded for 16 positions and asked legislators for a recurring funding increase of $647,309 and five additional positions: one program manager/supervisor, two senior auditors and two Investigator 4 positions. The request also covers IT, workspace and training costs tied to the new roles. The presenter said investigations of school districts and charter schools have grown in complexity since the General Assembly expanded the office’s authority in the 2022–23 fiscal year and that some school reviews require teams of about four auditors and investigators.
Agency staff described two one-year budget provisos that required the office to coordinate external forensic audits of the town of Calhoun Falls and Hampton County with external audit firms and the State Auditor’s Office, work the presenter said imposed additional short-term demands on staff. The office also explained uses for a special carryforward (proviso 94.2), including continuing professional education for staff, limited external counsel and forensic-accounting support when necessary.
The presenter reviewed debt-collection reporting requirements (proviso 117.33) and said the office recorded roughly $1.8 billion in aged receivables (60 days or more delinquent) in 2024 and about $4.2 billion in total state receivables. The office noted those totals include categories such as delinquent taxes and student loans and said separating categories reduces the receivable totals for agencies that primarily hold fees and fines. The presenter said many agencies use the Department of Revenue’s GEAR program to recover delinquent amounts.
On staffing, the speaker said recruiting senior auditors is the most challenging task statewide, and that the office plans to use midpoint salary targets, certification incentives (including support to achieve Certified Fraud Examiner credentials) and targeted bonuses for high-impact work to attract experienced candidates. The presenter offered to supply the committee with a track record of receivables by age band and emphasized the office’s intent to manage resources efficiently.
The subcommittee took no formal votes on the request during the session recorded in the transcript. The committee then moved to the next agenda item.
