Legislative Auditor presents $42.9 million financing plan; committee endorses request

Mike Waguespack, representing the Legislative Auditor's office, presented the agency's budget request and means of financing at the Feb. 26 committee meeting. He asked members to approve an appropriation request of $15,295,000 from the State General Fund and outlined an overall financing package of about $42,900,000 that includes allocated audit costs ($17,900,000), advisory billings ($62,000), self‑generated engagement billings ($1,228,000) and FEMA reimbursements ($5,600,000).

Waguespack said most expenditures are personnel services and that the office plans merit raises to retain staff. He cited increases in operating costs tied to technology upgrades and subscription‑based audit tools, while noting capital outlay requests are mainly for replacement of computers and servers. He also told the committee that the office has a fund balance (about $10 million noted in supporting materials) that can absorb shortfalls and that the request does not seek additional State General Fund support beyond the prior year for most items.

Committee members asked about recruitment and a list of open positions; Waguespack said the office is actively recruiting, using salary studies and internship pipelines to fill roles and is supplementing hiring with external recruiters where needed. After discussion the committee moved and carried a motion to approve the budget request and forward it to the Legislative Budgetary Council for formal consideration.

Next steps: the approved request will be presented to the Legislative Budgetary Council and then incorporated in the formal budget process.