Legislative Priorities

Where transparency prevails in government

State Auditor Pat McCarthy is dedicated to shining a brighter light on government operations for the public. Under her leadership, SAO’s vision and mission is to increase public trust in government by promoting accountability and transparency in government.

“Government transparency and accountability are more important than ever in these challenging times. The State Auditor’s Office is committed to providing the independent reviews and investigations the public expects.” – Pat McCarthy. Here’s more about State Auditor Pat McCarthy.

High-interest Topics 

Frequently requested information about SAO work

• SAO’s cybersecurity and IT audits help protect Washingtonians
  The State Auditor’s Office plays an important role in Washington’s cybersecurity efforts through our audits and outreach activities, with the goal of helping ensure IT security is improved at state, local and critical infrastructure government bodies across the state.
  
  For example, in response to federal concerns about cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, we’ve recently focused on local governments providing services such as water and health care. We also identified a recurring risk that a leading IT systems vendor addressed, a step that will improve the security of its customers nationwide. Learn more about work for fiscal year 2025.
   
• Special Report: Federal awards reported by Washington's local governments
  This infographic overview details how much money local governments receive in federal program grants, as reported to our Office and made available in our exclusive Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT). It also highlights the top federal agencies that have provided awards to local governments. Data current as of June 30, 2025.
   
• Cost-effective, timely audits help governments maintain their fiscal health
  Rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s require governments to provide a recent audit by our Office to help them determine the government’s bond rating, which can impact the government’s financial posture and the services it may provide to the community. To emphasize how important collaboration and audit timeliness are to this process, we have put together a special report, “Three Perspectives: How Audit Timeliness Impacts Government Bond Ratings” (PDF), which provides insight from a city finance director, a bond underwriter to local governments, and an audit leader from our Office.
   
• Use of Deadly Force Investigation Audits
  The Office of the Washington State Auditor was the first state auditor’s office in the nation to systematically review every local investigation into police use of deadly force, as authorized by the Legislature in 2021. Since publishing our first audit in mid-2022, our team of experts has audited nearly 90 use of deadly force investigations, and in December 2024 we released a report summarizing common areas of investigation noncompliance and our recommendations for improvement: Use of Deadly Force Investigation Audits: 2024 Year-End Report (PDF).
  
  We believe our reports will serve as a valuable resource for lawmakers, the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and the state’s independent investigation teams as they work to ensure police use of deadly force is investigated in a manner that maintains public trust and confidence.  
   
• The importance of SAO performance audits
  Created by Washington voters in 2005 with the passage of I-900, performance audits evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of government programs with the goal of making them work better. We completed more than 20 performance audits in the 2023-25 biennium, often with far-reaching implications for Washingtonians. Auditors looked at civil asset forfeiture laws and how the state cleans up contaminated waste sites, evaluated the state’s oversight of the cannabis industry and performed multiple audits in special education. Learn more on our About Performance Audits webpage or check out performance audits in progress.
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• Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT)
  The State Auditor’s Office annually collects financial information from all local governments across the state. To present this valuable information in a transparent and available manner, SAO created the Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) through its Center for Government Innovation. FIT is a very useful tool for policymakers and staff as it displays information by individual governments and government types, and allows users to parse the information by topic, spending or even the financial health of an entity. 

Legislative contact

Scott Nelson manages legislative, policy and tribal relations for the State Auditor's Office. Scott was raised in Spokane and schooled in Tacoma. His career in government includes being a member of the original staff of Congressman Norman D. Dicks; a stint as a national consultant; then owning his own firm before coming to work for Auditor McCarthy.

Scott Nelson, Director of Legislative and Policy Affairs scott.nelson@sao.wa.gov

To request an appointment with Scott Nelson, please contact Collin Thrower at Collin.Thrower@sao.wa.gov.