Audit division reports progress reducing campaign‑audit backlog, plans expanded lobbying reviews

Audit Division manager Ms. Fong told the Ethics Commission on Aug. 18 that the division has focused this year on addressing a backlog of mandatory campaign audits dating to the 2019 and 2020 election cycles and on establishing a contract with the Office of Contract Administration to bring in an external vendor.

Fong said the division has completed multiple mandatory audits from the 2019 and 2020 elections internally and expects the external contract to handle remaining mandatory audits from 2020 and 2022 once executed. She reported work to build a sustainable lobbying‑audit program (the commission is required to audit at least one lobbyist annually) and to develop a Form 700 post‑filing compliance review program.

Commissioners asked about capacity: Fong said audit staffing currently comprises one manager and three auditors, which the division considers full staffing. She noted that while code requires at least one lobbying audit per year, the division recently conducted six in its first round and expects to continue more than the minimum depending on disclosure activity.

Fong described the division’s approach as focused on compliance with laws and regulation and said a vendor contract is expected by the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 to assist with remaining backlog work. Commissioners thanked the division and asked for continued updates as contracting and audit work proceeds.