West Virginia State Auditor

Last updated
State Auditor of West Virginia
Incumbent
Mark Hunt
since January 13, 2025
Style
Seat West Virginia State Capitol
Charleston, West Virginia
AppointerGeneral election
Term length Four years, unlimited
Constituting instrument Constitution of West Virginia: Article VI, Section 1; Article VII, Sections 1, 2, and 17; Article X, Section 3; Article XI, Section 7; and Article XII, Section 4 [1]
FormationJune 20, 1863
(161 years ago) (June 20, 1863)
Salary $95,000 [2]
Website Official website

The state auditor of West Virginia is an elected constitutional officer in the executive branch of the U.S. state of West Virginia. The incumbent is Mark Hunt, a Republican.

Contents

Powers and duties

Bookkeeping responsibilities

Article X, Section 3 of the Constitution of West Virginia provides that "[n]o money shall be drawn from the treasury but in pursuance of an appropriation made by law, and on a warrant issued thereon by the auditor..." [3] This constitutional mandate effectively designates the state auditor as the bookkeeper of state government. [4] [5] [6] This function entails preauditing claims against the state, issuing warrants on the state treasury in payment of claims approved, administering payroll to state employees, accounting for revenues, expenditures, and monthly balances by both appropriation and fund, conducting the annual settlement of state accounts, and providing budget analysis services to state agencies. [7] [8] [9] [10]

However, the state auditor is not responsible for statewide financial accounting and reporting or the design and enforcement of the internal control system. Rather, the state's fiscal control function rests with the Finance Division in the Department of Administration. [11] In this sense, the state auditor's office performs a role similar to that carried out by accounts payable departments in the private sector.

Other responsibilities

Statute law confers a number of other duties on the state auditor. Foremost among them, the state auditor is ex officio "chief inspector and supervisor of public offices". [12] [13] [14] As such, the state auditor's office investigates waste, fraud, and abuse in state agencies and local governments, supervises local government finances, and audits West Virginia's approximately 700 political subdivisions, be they counties, cities, towns, or school districts. [15] [16] [17] Additionally, the state auditor regulates the securities industry and administers tax-delinquent property that accrues to the state. [18] [19] This remit, when taken altogether, is unique among America's state auditors.

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References

  1. ↑ "Constitution of West Virginia". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ↑ "West Virginia State Auditor". Ballotpedia. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Constitution of West Virginia". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Chapter 6, Article 8, West Virginia Code". West Virginia Legislative Services Division. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Chapter 12, Article 3, West Virginia Code". West Virginia Legislative Services Division. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Chapter 12, Article 4, West Virginia Code". West Virginia Legislative Services Division. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Accounting Division". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Auditing Division". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Budget Analysis Division". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Central Payroll Division". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ "§5A-2-33, West Virginia Code". West Virginia Legislative Services Division. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Chapter 6, Article 9, West Virginia Code". West Virginia Legislative Services Division. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Chapter 6, Article 9B, West Virginia Code". West Virginia Legislative Services Division. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Chapter 12, Article 4A, West Virginia Code". West Virginia Legislative Services Division. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Public Integrity and Fraud Unit". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Local Government Services Division". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Chief Inspector Division". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Securities Commission". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  19. ↑ "County Collections Division". West Virginia Office of the State Auditor. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
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