Controller's Audit Programs - Protecting Your Tax Dollars

Guarding Taxpayer Dollars at All Levels of Government

The Controller’s Audit Authority

  • Has resulted in more than $7.4 Billion in audit findings. 
  • Is provided for in the State Constitution
  • Is the only one that is independent of both the Administration and the Legislature;
  • Is directed at ensuring that taxpayer dollars spent at the State and local level are free of fraud, waste and abuse;
  • Ensures that independent auditors performing annual financial and compliance audits of school districts and local governments comply with professional audit standards and ensures that findings are addressed;
  • Includes a team of expert auditors, many of whom are Certified Public Accountants, who perform their work to the highest professional auditing standards.

Audit Findings

Since January 2015, the Controller's Audit Program has identified $7,462,482,210 in waste, abuse and fiscal mismanagement.

These audit findings include:

  • Unlawful/Unallowable: $3,860,478,984
  • Increased Revenue: $499,575,779
  • Savings/Cost Cutting: $2,121,376,304
  • Consumer Protection: $981,254,873

The Controller also works closely with state and local agencies to provide fiscal guidance and develop programs and procedures to ensure that fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars can be prevented or detected quickly.