Elaine Howle retired the other day after more than two decades as the state’s auditor but left behind a few reports that cement her legacy as a fierce watchdog of inefficiency and malfeasance in state and local government.

Capitol insiders are waiting for the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom to name her successor and reveal whether the Howle’s independent and plainspoken approach to often complex issues of governance will continue.

Financial Management System a Mess

A few days after Howle departed, one of the leftover reports was issued, revisiting a thorny problem that dates back 16 years called Financial Information System for California. It’s an awkward title written to justify a catchy acronym, FI$cal.

Dan Walters

CalMatters

Opinion

Launched in 2005, FI$cal was to be a comprehensive project that would replace dozens of incompatible and outdated accounting systems and thus give officials and the public a more accurate and timely picture of the state’s finances.

It’s been a hot mess from the onset, costing untold millions of dollars and still far from finished, despite facesaving efforts by state bureaucrats to declare it complete, which both Howle’s office and the state’s other watchdog, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, have criticized as deceptive.

The newest audit once again focuses on the project’s tardiness and a lack of a realistic timeline for completion.

Missed Deadlines, Limited Functionality

“The project office will not complete the project by its scheduled...

Read Full Story: https://gvwire.com/2022/01/09/once-again-california-auditor-finds-high-tech-f...