Feb. 23, 2015

Audit available to public online
 
HARRISBURG
– The bicameral, bipartisan Legislative Audit Advisory Commission (LAAC), chaired by Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland), today voted to accept the audit report of the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s finances for the 2013-14 fiscal year as conducted by an independent certified public accounting firm.
 
“While the numbers in the audit are already seven months out-of-date, reserve funds are being spent down in large part due to the governor’s budget vetoes,” Keller said. “But it is important to remember that an adequate reserve be maintained to ensure the independent and continued operation of the General Assembly in the event of a government shutdown, including one created by a budget stalemate, for example.”
 
The annual audit of the various legislative departments and legislative service agencies revealed a reserve of $161,436,941, as of June 30, 2014. The audit was carried out by Mitchell & Titus, LLP, of Philadelphia.
 
“We continue to be as open and transparent as possible with Pennsylvania citizens regarding the findings of the annual audit. Once again, the audit report is fully accessible online,” added Keller.
 
The full audit and report, along with audits and reports dating back to 2007, can be viewed on the Pennsylvania General Assembly website, www.legis.state.pa.us, or at the direct link, http://goo.gl/jSmCKw.
 
Below is a breakdown of the June 30, 2014, reserves included in the audit: 
 
Senate – $53,747,892.
House of Representatives – $72,944,882.
Legislative Reference Bureau – $6,743,307.
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee – $1,181,938.
Legislative Data Processing Committee – $14,507,174.
Joint State Government Commission – $649,199.
Local Government Commission – $432,354.
Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control Commission – $260,893.
LAAC – $189,450.
Independent Regulatory Review Commission – $1,047,384.
Capitol Preservation Committee – $3,468,296.
Independent Fiscal Office – $2,046,050.
Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission – $1,275,554.
Commonwealth Mail Processing Center – $2,942,568.
 
The members of the commission are: Keller, Rep. Florindo Fabrizio (D-Erie), Sen. Patrick Browne (R-Lehigh), Sen. Lawrence Farnese (D-Philadelphia), Jacqueline Whitcomb (House appointee), Merritt Reitzel (Senate appointee) and Ira Weiss (Senate appointee).
 
The LAAC was formed as a result of Act 151 of 1970. The commission consists of eight members, including a majority and a minority member of the House of Representatives and two public members appointed by the House speaker; and a majority and a minority member of the Senate and two public members appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate.
 
The commission’s function is twofold. It examines the standards of audits performed under the provisions of Section 10 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, and recommends measures for the improvement of pre-auditing of the financial affairs of the Commonwealth. It also reports annually recommendations and suggested legislation, if any, for the improvement of auditing in the Commonwealth, and particularly as it pertains to the Legislature.
 
Representative Mark Keller
86th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717.260.6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepKeller.com / Facebook.com/RepKeller
 
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