Management Audit Committee Meets, Takes Significant Action

Posted by Bobbie Frank on July 10, 2025

The Management Audit Committee took some significant action during their meeting this week that may continue to set the tone for what is to come in terms of budget oversight, cuts and audits of local governments as well as the legislative service office (LSO).

After receiving audit reports and local government entity responses from the Wyoming Department of Audit, Representative Lien brought and gained support for a motion to subpoena representatives of the Riverton Recreation District #25 and the Fremont County Clerk Town of Manderson, the Town of Bear River including the Mayor, Clerk and Treasurer and the Town of Manderson’s Mayor, Clerk and Treasurer to appear before the committee to respond to findings in the audit conducted by the department of audit. The LSO staff pointed out that typically the LSO invites the local government to appear before the committee and typically does not exercise subpoena powers, the committee chose to proceed with use of the subpoena authorities to compel the towns appearance.

After extensive discussion, the committee also passed a motion brought by Senator Smith to direct the Wyoming Department of Audit to conduct a performance audit of their own Legislative Service Office. Senator Rothfuss stressed that directing a state agency, an arm of the executive branch, to evaluate the legislative branch is a violation of the separation of powers. Although an independent private firm usually audits the Legislative Service Office, the committee remained unconvinced and approved the motion. There was also directive to draft legislation to move the Department of Audit into the Legislative Service Office.

The last action taken by the Committee was to appoint a subcommittee to further conduct a finding of facts on the election irregularities during the general election in Weston County.

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Wyoming Advocacy.