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Washington State Auditor
The state auditor of Washington is an independently elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Washington. Eleven individuals have held the office since statehood. The incumbent is Pat McCarthy, a Democrat and the first woman to occupy the office.
Established in 1889, the office of State Auditor was designed by Washington's founders to assure that all public money received and disbursed by state and local governments is spent wisely and in the public interest. The state auditor exercises this constitutional power, duty, and authority as "auditor of public accounts" by conducting financial, single, accountability, cybersecurity, and performance audits of local governments and state agencies. In a similar vein, the state auditor investigates allegations of waste, fraud, or abuse of public funds. Altogether, 2,400 or so governmental entities and some $170 billion in public spending are subject to the state auditor's oversight.
Other programs have been assigned to the state auditor by law. For example, the state auditor prescribes uniform systems of accounting and financial reporting consistent with the pronouncements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board for each of Washington's myriad counties, cities, towns, school districts, and other political subdivisions. Likewise, the state auditor supports local governments with advice and training on best practices in public administration, assesses compliance with Washington's open meeting and public records laws, and administers a whistleblower protection program for state employees. Functional responsibilities aside, the state auditor is also fourth (behind the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and treasurer, respectively) in the line of succession to the office of governor of Washington.
In 1854, one year after Washington left the Oregon Territory and became a territory in its own right, the Washington Territorial Legislature established the position of Territorial Auditor. The territorial auditor was tasked with "maintaining records of all receipts and disbursements, a 'pre-audit' settlement of all claims and the issuance of warrants". In 1864, the Legislative Assembly tasked Territorial Auditor Urban E. Hicks with "...the duty...to report such plans as he may deem expedient for the support of the public credit; for lessening the public expenses; for using the public money to the best advantage and for promoting frugality and economy in regard to the fiscal affairs of the territory."
Thomas Reed (served from 1889 to 1893) was Washington's first state auditor. He established many values that still form a core part of the Washington State Auditor's Office mission, such as placing the public welfare before personal interests and the welfare of the state before partisanship. He added several key tasks to the auditor's duties, including investigating discrepancies in the accounting and reporting of budgets.
He was succeeded by Leban R. Grimes from 1893 to 1895, who continued Reed's agenda ensuring that the public good was placed before partisan interests. Grimes died suddenly in office, and Governon John H. McGraw appointed J.E. Frost to serve out Grimes' term from 1895 to 1897. Frost used many of the same financial models as his predecessor's and was optimistic about the overall solvency of the state despite the recession of the late 1890s.
Neal Cheetham replaced Frost in 1897, serving as auditor until 1901. Cheetham belonged to the Populist Party and believed that "a man has no more right to use powers delegated to him by the people, while he holds an official position, for selfish or personal ends than he would have to use public funds committed to his trust for similar purpose".
Support for the Populist Party waned and Cheetham lost the next election to John D. Atkinson who served from 1901 to 1905. During his term, Atkinson, a Republican, addressed a wide range of issues, from banking to liquor license taxes and employee reimbursements. Perhaps his greatest successes were in state fund management; his recommendations regarding military taxes and lending from school funds saved taxpayers—and the state—money.
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Washington State Auditor
The state auditor of Washington is an independently elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Washington. Eleven individuals have held the office since statehood. The incumbent is Pat McCarthy, a Democrat and the first woman to occupy the office.
Established in 1889, the office of State Auditor was designed by Washington's founders to assure that all public money received and disbursed by state and local governments is spent wisely and in the public interest. The state auditor exercises this constitutional power, duty, and authority as "auditor of public accounts" by conducting financial, single, accountability, cybersecurity, and performance audits of local governments and state agencies. In a similar vein, the state auditor investigates allegations of waste, fraud, or abuse of public funds. Altogether, 2,400 or so governmental entities and some $170 billion in public spending are subject to the state auditor's oversight.
Other programs have been assigned to the state auditor by law. For example, the state auditor prescribes uniform systems of accounting and financial reporting consistent with the pronouncements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board for each of Washington's myriad counties, cities, towns, school districts, and other political subdivisions. Likewise, the state auditor supports local governments with advice and training on best practices in public administration, assesses compliance with Washington's open meeting and public records laws, and administers a whistleblower protection program for state employees. Functional responsibilities aside, the state auditor is also fourth (behind the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and treasurer, respectively) in the line of succession to the office of governor of Washington.
In 1854, one year after Washington left the Oregon Territory and became a territory in its own right, the Washington Territorial Legislature established the position of Territorial Auditor. The territorial auditor was tasked with "maintaining records of all receipts and disbursements, a 'pre-audit' settlement of all claims and the issuance of warrants". In 1864, the Legislative Assembly tasked Territorial Auditor Urban E. Hicks with "...the duty...to report such plans as he may deem expedient for the support of the public credit; for lessening the public expenses; for using the public money to the best advantage and for promoting frugality and economy in regard to the fiscal affairs of the territory."
Thomas Reed (served from 1889 to 1893) was Washington's first state auditor. He established many values that still form a core part of the Washington State Auditor's Office mission, such as placing the public welfare before personal interests and the welfare of the state before partisanship. He added several key tasks to the auditor's duties, including investigating discrepancies in the accounting and reporting of budgets.
He was succeeded by Leban R. Grimes from 1893 to 1895, who continued Reed's agenda ensuring that the public good was placed before partisan interests. Grimes died suddenly in office, and Governon John H. McGraw appointed J.E. Frost to serve out Grimes' term from 1895 to 1897. Frost used many of the same financial models as his predecessor's and was optimistic about the overall solvency of the state despite the recession of the late 1890s.
Neal Cheetham replaced Frost in 1897, serving as auditor until 1901. Cheetham belonged to the Populist Party and believed that "a man has no more right to use powers delegated to him by the people, while he holds an official position, for selfish or personal ends than he would have to use public funds committed to his trust for similar purpose".
Support for the Populist Party waned and Cheetham lost the next election to John D. Atkinson who served from 1901 to 1905. During his term, Atkinson, a Republican, addressed a wide range of issues, from banking to liquor license taxes and employee reimbursements. Perhaps his greatest successes were in state fund management; his recommendations regarding military taxes and lending from school funds saved taxpayers—and the state—money.