FY 07-08 STRATEGIC PLAN
Mission and Values
The Legislative Audit Council’s mission is to conduct performance audits of state agencies and programs to help ensure that their operations are efficient, they maximize performance, and they follow the law. In conducting audits, the LAC seeks to uphold the values of responsiveness, fairness, independence, thoroughness, and accuracy.
Major Work Products
The LAC’s major work products are performance audits conducted upon the request of members of the General Assembly.
Distinctive Competencies
The LAC has two primary competencies which, together, set us apart from other organizations:
Organizational Integrity
Because the LAC is part of the legislative branch of state government, it is organizationally independent of the executive branch agencies it audits. The LAC is administered by a director who is appointed to four-year terms by a board whose voting members are appointed from the public at-large by the General Assembly to six-year terms. The LAC also adheres to Government Auditing Standards established by the Comptroller General of the United States.
Professional Independence
The LAC’s staff are required to sign a statement of independence at the beginning of each audit engagement. In addition, the LAC’s staff are prohibited from involvement in state government-related political activity.
Key Strategic Goals
The LAC has three strategic goals:
- Identify specific ways to reduce the cost of state government.
- Identify specific ways to improve the performance of state government.
- Provide information to the General Assembly and the public.
Strategic Objectives / Action Plans
Maintain a qualified staff by developing their knowledge, skills, and abilities and providing a positive work environment.
Each year, the LAC will seek to ensure that at least 90% of its auditors have a graduate degree and/or a professional license (e.g. CPA). We also will require that 100% of auditors complete a minimum of 20 training hours each year and at least 80 hours every two years. Every other year, the LAC will survey its staff to determine employee satisfaction. The LAC will seek to score at or above the 55th percentile of organizations nationwide on the Campbell Organizational Survey, a nationally-recognized instrument for measuring employee satisfaction.
Conduct performance audits of state agency programs in compliance with Government Auditing Standards.
Every three years, the LAC will seek to successfully undergo a peer review of our compliance with Government Auditing Standards, conducted by a team of out-of-state auditors sent by the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers.
Make and determine compliance with recommendations for reducing the cost of state government and improving its performance.
Each year the LAC will track for each audit the potential financial benefits identified and the number of recommendations made. For audits published in prior years, the LAC will track the financial benefits realized and the percentage of recommendations implemented.
Ensure that audits are published in a timely manner.
Each year, the LAC will seek to publish a minimum of 80% of audits within 30 days of the projected date.
Ensure that LAC audits are conducted in an efficient manner.
The LAC will seek to limit its cost per audit hour to a reasonable amount.
Ensure that audits meet the needs of the legislators who request them.
Each year, the LAC will seek to ensure that a minimum of 80% of the legislators who have requested audits are satisfied with their quality.
September 19, 2007