The governor is asking state lawmakers to establish a division within her budget office to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in state government.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell today submitted testimony to the Legislature’s joint committee on government administration and elections in support of her bill to establish the Office of Accountability, which would operate within the Office of Policy and Management.
The Legislature relies on the state Auditors of Public Accounts to track state agencies’ use of taxpayer money.
The new accountability office, Rell said, would review the use and disposition of state property and the collection, disbursement and expenditure of state and federal funds.
She said it would also investigate and audit state agencies to achieve these purposes, and oversee the administration of quality assurance measures to ensure that state services are provided in a timely and professional manner utilizing industry-appropriate best practices.
“This office would audit state agency practices, records and accounts to eliminate waste and inefficiency in state government,” Rell said.
