COMMENTARY

July 25, 2003

Accountability: Low state priority?

Jason Mercier | Evergreen Freedom Foundation
Despite all the frantic rhetoric, it looks as though accountability was a big loser this year. Not only did the full legislature fail to adopt authorization for statewide independent and comprehensive performance audits, lawmakers reduced the state auditor’s staff and funding disproportionately more than other statewide elected officials.

The auditor’s office received a 10 percent decrease in staffing and a 28 percent decrease in funding.

Contrast these reductions with the fate of the State Salary Commission which raised the salaries of legislators against their will. Remember how upset legislators were? Turns out the "punishment" lawmakers decided to impose was a six percent increase in the Commission’s funding.

How’s that for accountability?

Staffing and Funding 2003-05 / 2001-03 comparison
(Omnibus Operating Budget)

Office	New FTEs	Change	General Fund**	Change
Secretary of State*	91.8	52.6%	$24,500	144.7%
Lt. Governor	2	33.3%	$221	25.2%
Insurance Commissioner	16.2	8.9%	N/A	N/A
Treasurer	<2.3>	<2.7%>	N/A	N/A
Attorney General	<6.3>	<0.5%>	<$718>	<8.1%>
Governor	<5.6>	<9%>	<$918>	<10.8%>
Auditor	<31.8>	<10.1%>	<$549>	<28.1%>

Notables

Office	New FTEs	Change	General Fund*	Change
Salaries Commission	0.3	33.3%	$13	5.7%
House	<1.5>	<0.4%>	$957	1.7%
Senate	<9.5>	<3.1%>	<$488>	<1.1%>

* State library was transferred to Secretary of State's office
** Dollars in thousands

Source: Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program (LEAP) (7/17/03); includes enacted 2003 supplemental budget and governor’s vetoes.

Jason Mercier is a budget research analyst for the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, an Olympia-based policy research organization.

Contact: Jason Mercier | Budget Research Analyst | 360.956.3482

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org