by: John Clore | 2/25/2025 at 12:01 PM

Michigan Auditor General at House Oversight Committee

Today, the Michigan Auditor General presented an overview of its duties to the Michigan House Oversight Committee. However, the presentation failed to capture the interest of state representatives, many of whom were visibly disengaged, conversing and giggling amongst themselves throughout the session.

Rep Greene (R) and Rep Rigas (R) are engaged in humorous whispers amongst themselves during the presentation, while Rep Schriver (R) is engaged in his cell phone.

During the question-and-answer segment, Rep. Miller (D) posed two critical questions:

  • How much does an audit cost?
  • Which audits have saved Michigan money?

The Auditor General responded that a performance audit typically requires 2,000 hours at a rate of $100 per hour, totaling approximately $200,000 per audit. However, when asked which specific audits had resulted in cost savings for the state, no clear answer was provided.

Rep Miller (D) asking interesting questions.

Lack of Accountability and Legislative Action

Perhaps more concerning than the cost of audits is the apparent lack of accountability following their findings. The Auditor General reports its results to the legislative and executive branches, but enforcement of any penalties or legal action is left to these governing bodies.

Over the past year, 54 audits were conducted across various state agencies and departments. Yet, only four of these audits were assigned to a legislative committee for review. Despite these investigations, no charges were filed, and no penalties were imposed on any department or agency.

With each audit costing approximately $200,000, the total taxpayer expenditure for these 54 audits amounts to $10.8 million—without any tangible accountability measures being enforced.

Past Audit Findings Ignored

The lack of government action following audit findings is not a new issue. In 2022, the Auditor General discovered that Michigan’s nursing home COVID-19 death toll was underreported by 30%, revealing 2,000 additional deaths attributed to quarantine mandates. Despite these alarming findings, Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s administration disputed the numbers, and no corrective actions were taken.

Similarly, a 2024 audit exposed major oversight failures within Michigan’s Liquor Control Commission (MLCC). The report found that the MLCC, the sole wholesaler of all spirit products in the state, failed to maintain adequate control over:

  • The purchase, sale, and distribution of spirits.
  • Spirit inventory management.
  • Physical inventory tracking.

Despite these glaring deficiencies, no penalties or enforcement actions were taken against the MLCC.

A Costly System with Little Impact

The Michigan Auditor General’s office is tasked with ensuring government accountability, yet the lack of follow-through by lawmakers raises serious concerns. If millions in taxpayer dollars are spent on audits that expose waste, mismanagement, and even potential wrongdoing—only for those findings to be dismissed—one must question the effectiveness of the system itself.

Without enforcement and real consequences, Michigan taxpayers are left funding investigations that result in no meaningful change.