AUDITS

Getting real answers and fresh data starting day one

I'm not waiting around for old audit reports or the same slow processes that let waste pile up for years. As governor, I want to know what is happening right now in the state government. Current spending, current problems, current waste. We can fix things fast, not after the damage is done. Right now, most state audits are done by the Legislative Services Office (financial audits every 1 to 3 years for agencies) or the Office of Performance Evaluations (deeper program reviews when the legislature asks). Those are important, but they are often backward looking, take time, and do not always catch issues in real time. Recent examples like the Luma accounting system rollout causing major errors, hundreds of millions in misstatements, duplicate payments, and weak controls show problems that got exposed long after they started, not while they were happening. My plan flips that. Immediate action for up to date information, combined with citizen eyes and better tools.

What I'll Do Day One as Governor

  • Issue an executive order directing every state agency and department to conduct a thorough internal financial review right away. Look at current budgets, ongoing contracts, recent payments, payroll, and operations. These are not full external audits (those take longer and need legislation), but focused internal checks for any red flags, duplicates, overpayments, or inefficiencies happening now.

  • Require agencies to report detailed findings publicly within the first 60 to 90 days. No hiding behind "it is complicated." Everything goes on Transparent Idaho for you to see.

  • Direct full cooperation with the State Controller's Office to push near real time data into Transparent Idaho where possible (for example, reducing lags on transactional data beyond the current two week buffer where safe).

  • Use the Citizens Task Forces (one per major department) to review these fresh internal reports, cross check with public data, analyze citizen tips coming in hot, and recommend fixes based on current realities, not outdated numbers.

This gets us actionable, fresh insights fast. Things like unusual spending spikes this month, contracts awarded recently that do not add up, or programs not delivering as promised are identified right now.

How This Differs from What's Happening Today

Today's system is solid in some ways, but it is not built for speed or real time fixes. Here is the clear difference:

  • Current audits (Legislative Services Office and Office of Performance Evaluations): Mostly backward looking. Financial audits every 1 to 3 years per agency, performance reviews only when legislators request them. They look at past fiscal years, often taking months or years to release. Problems like Luma's rollout (2023 implementation leading to 2025 audit findings of misstatements worth hundreds of millions, duplicate payments over 30 million dollars, unverifiable cash balances, and control weaknesses) were caught after the fact, not prevented or spotted early. The system relies on the legislature to start things, and results can sit or get debated quietly.

  • My approach: Forward focused and immediate. Day one executive order forces agencies to review current operations and report publicly in 60 to 90 days. Fresh data on what is happening this quarter, not last year. The governor directs it directly (using executive authority to require reports and cooperation), so no waiting for legislative cycles. Citizens Task Forces jump in right away with real world knowledge to analyze the latest data for patterns and red flags. Everything hits Transparent Idaho fast for public scrutiny. This creates pressure to fix issues now, not years later.

In short: Today's setup is like checking your car's engine every few years after it is already smoking. My plan pops the hood on day one, gets volunteers looking at the current warning lights, and starts fixing things before they break down. We still feed findings to the pros for deeper checks.

What I'll Push the Legislature For

  • Legislation requiring independent external audits of all major agencies on a more frequent, rolling basis (not just every few years), with results posted publicly and immediately.

  • Stronger laws to make Transparent Idaho truly real time for more data types, including mandatory integration from local governments so we see the full picture of state related spending.

  • Resources for the Attorney General and auditors to follow up on any serious issues uncovered in these fresh reviews.

How We'll Verify Fresh Data

  • Cross check everything: Internal agency reports + Transparent Idaho data + citizen tips + AI analysis (scanning for patterns in current transactions, like duplicate payments or odd trends).

  • Public scrutiny: All findings posted openly. You, the media, and watchdogs can question and verify.

  • No old data only: While we use historical audits for context, the priority is current and forward looking. What is broken today and how to fix it tomorrow.

Answers to Common Questions

Why focus on internal reviews instead of waiting for pro audits?

Because I can do this immediately under my authority (the governor can require reports and info from agencies). It gets fresh data flowing without needing new laws first. Pros (like Legislative Audits) still do their work. We feed them our findings to speed things up.

How current is the data we will get?

As current as systems allow: payroll nightly, transactions with minimal lag (push to shorten it), budgets and contracts real time where posted. Citizen tips add instant ground level intel.

What if agencies drag their feet on these internal reviews?

I will direct full cooperation and make any resistance public. The Citizens Task Forces will call it out, and we will refer big issues to the AG or legislature

Cost?

Low. Agencies do their own internal checks (they should already have controls for this), volunteers handle review with Grok (low or no cost), public posting uses existing Transparent Idaho.

How does this tie into Citizens Task Forces?

Each department's task force gets the fresh internal review for their area first, digs in with real world knowledge, and pushes recommendations based on today's problems. This is about truth in real time, not waiting for perfect audits years later. Waste does not fix itself. We catch it now, save money now, and make government work better now.