State auditor visits Cook County ahead of possible changes to audit requirements for some local governments

Minnesota’s state auditor is thinking of making some changes to the annual audit requirements for some smaller local government agencies, according to a recent report in the Financial Times.

From small-town governments to associations managing firefighter pensions, municipal authorities across Minnesota are having a hard time finding external auditors, State Auditor Julie Blaha recently told the publication. A factor in why certain entities are having challenges finding people or companies to perform audits follows a trend in fewer people getting involved with public finance, according to the state auditor.

The state auditor is in Cook County this week, meeting with local officials in Grand Marais at the courthouse. Among those she will be meeting with is Cook County Auditor Braidy Powers. On the local level, challenges finding people who are interested in public finance follows a theme across various sectors, including law enforcement and healthcare. 

Ahead of their meeting Sept. 26, WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Blaha and Powers about the status of public finance in Minnesota, and specifically in Cook County. Listen to their conversation in the audio shared below.

Joe Friedrichs September 26, 2023