Where is accountability of state audits?
Where is Illinois’ state financial report? Sheila Weinberg, founder of Truth in Accounting, reported on July 31 that Illinois and Nevada have not issued their reports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Illinois and Nevada, along with five other states, have not released their financial reports for fiscal year June 30, 2024, as well.
Ten days earlier Susana Mendoza, Illinois’ comptroller, expressed frustration with the late annual audits according to Greg Bishop’s Center Square article. She said Illinois is unique in that Illinois audits each individual agency rather than a statewide audit. She said she has been “calling and pushing for this change (a statewide audit) for my first term as comptroller.”
Mendoza had conversations with the auditor general and the governor to do a statewide audit for fiscal year 2025. She claims, “all three of us are now on the same page.”
JB Pritzker assumed office as Illinois’ governor on Jan. 14, 2019, following an election in November 2018. Frank Mautino assumed office as Illinois’ Auditor General Jan. 1, 2016. He was appointed by the General Assembly to a 10-year term.
Why did it take over six years for Auditor General Mautino and Gov. Pritzker to accept Comptroller Mendoza advice and shift to a statewide audit? Why are all the fiscal year 2023 audits of over 60 state agencies not yet completed?
What state agencies are not completed and why? When will those agencies’ audits expect to be completed? Why not just disclaim an opinion on the outstanding agencies and release the state report for Illinois? Are the remaining audits so material that an opinion cannot even be rendered on the state’s finances?
Where is the accountability for the tens of billions of Illinois’ taxpayer dollars?
Mike Tennis
Sleepy Hollow