House Speaker Praises State Auditor Sally Symanski

House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, today praised retiring Colorado State Auditor Sally Symanski for her service and dedication to Colorado. McNulty spoke highly of Symanski’s dedication to performing fair and detailed audits and wished her well in her future endeavors.

“A key role of the State Auditor is to work closely with the Legislative Audit Committee, which serves as the taxpayer’s watchdog to find waste and abuse and keep state government running efficiently,” McNulty said. “One only has to take a quick look at her work as Auditor to know that she worked exceptionally well with the committee members in performing these duties.”

McNulty pointed to several recent audits that resulted in a savings of taxpayer dollars including a June of 2010 audit that uncovered a state subsidized home phone program that was being abused by nearly 10,000 people who were not qualified to participate in the program.

“The work of Ms. Symanski and her staff has saved Colorado taxpayers money and in turn helped to ease the budget shortfall we are currently facing,” said Rep. Jim Kerr, R-Littleton. “As the longest serving member of the Legislative Audit Committee, I can speak with some authority when I say that Ms. Symanski will be missed.”

Kerr pointed out that the Legislative Audit Committee works closely with the State Auditor’s Office as the only true oversight committee over all of Colorado state government. “Our job is to work with the Auditor’s Office to find waste, fraud, and abuse in state government and make sure that appropriate action is taken to correct these problems.”

Another March 2010 audit of RTD uncovered an excessive salary paid to the RTD General Manager including a $1.3 million one-time payout.

“Sally Symanski is a consummate professional whose tenure as State Auditor resulted in substantial savings of taxpayer dollars,” McNulty said. “Her attention to detail and professionalism resulted in audits that have been fair and concise. She will be missed and I thank her for her service to the state of Colorado.”

Symanski announced her retirement yesterday.