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The Pennsylvania Auditor General is the chief fiscal officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1850. The current Auditor General of Pennsylvania is Eugene DePasquale.
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History
The Office of the Auditor General of Pennsylvania was created in 1809 by the General Assembly. The office was appointed by the Governor until 1850, when it became a statewide elective office. The terms were for 3 years, until a constitutional amendment in 1909 increased the terms to 4 years.
Responsibilities
The office performs financial audits of state agencies, municipal governments, school districts, public sector pensions, entities that receive state funding support (such as certain universities and hospitals), and corporate tax returns. These audits are designed as an accountability mechanism and serve to ensure that public money is spent in an appropriate manner. Additionally, the agency undertakes performance audits, which are designed to determine measure program efficiency and effectiveness, of certain organizations, such as veteran's homes, prisons, and mental health centers.[1]