Exposing Fraud, Waste & Abuse in State Government

During these tough economic times, it is more important than ever for state government to spend our tax dollars wisely.  That's why State Auditor Leslie Merritt is aggressively working to expose fraud, waste and abuse in state government. 

Auditor Merritt Takes Action:  Cleaning Up the Backlog

When Auditor Merritt took office in January of 2005, he discovered a huge backlog of unfinished investigative audits -- some of them three years old.  Auditor Merritt took action, reducing the backlog by 76%.

Auditor Merritt Takes Action to Expose Fraud, Waste & Abuse

Auditor Merritt launched a new Investigative Task Force to strengthen the ability of the Auditor's Office to root out fraud, waste and abuse in state government.  Auditor Merritt hired a veteran FBI agent to spearhead the Investigative Task Force and supervise the office's efforts to expose fraud, waste and abuse.

Promoting the Auditor's Fraud Hotline

Auditor Merritt has aggressively promoted the Auditor's fraud hotline.  A series of television public service announcements (in which Auditor Merritt did not appear) promoted the hotline, resulting in a substantial increase in credible fraud tips. 

Examples of Fraud, Waste & Abuse Auditor Merritt has exposed:

• A multi-million dollar pork-barrel slush fund set up by legislative leaders

• Fake Social Security numbers being used for identification in numerous state agencies

• State purchasers accepting kickbacks

• Vendors over-charging state agencies by hundreds of thousands of dollars

• A university administrator who was accused of stealing money from the school and was subsequently arrested by university police

• Scholarships designated for needy students instead going to relatives of university employees

• A university vice-chancellor inappropriately awarding a no-bid contract worth several hundred thousand dollars

• Mismanagement of funds in state-funded non-profits

• Wasteful spending and abuse in our state's mental health system

• DOT contractors being overpaid tens of thousands of dollars

• N.C. DOT purchasing nearly $200,000 in office supplies from an unapproved vendor

• And much more... click on the news articles listed below for more information

Articles & Editorials on Auditor Merritt's Efforts to Expose Fraud, Waste & Abuse in State Government