Pennsylvania Auditor General

Oversees audits to ensure tax dollars are spent legally and properly.

The auditor general is in charge of a team that performs audits, or examinations, on state-funded programs and services to make sure that state money and tax dollars are spent legally and properly.

The Department of the Auditor General conducts financial audits to ensure the validity of reported information and performance audits to check if tax dollars are being spent effectively.
The Department of the Auditor General makes sure fines, taxes, and other charges are properly assessed, collected, and given to the appropriate state agency.
The auditor general is elected to four-year terms and can only hold a maximum of two terms.

How this impacts you

Public Safety — The Department of the Auditor General looks at cost reports to determine the proper use of state funds for social services.
Taxes — A two-percent tax on fire insurance purchases is given to Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Associations funds, which is used to pay for firefighters’ insurance, fire equipment, and training. The Department of the Auditor General ensures that these funds are spent correctly and accordingly.