The Issues
Tom is a principled, consistent conservative. Not poll tested. No professional handlers or hired guns. What you see is what you get. The message is the same everywhere in Minnesota.
Role of The State Auditor
As State Auditor, Tom Conlon believes the position should be focused on policy that advocates for taxpayer interests and accountability in local, county and school district governmental units. He believes standard accounting and audit principles are crucial and must be free of politics.
The State Auditor should also play a supportive, educational role to assist governmental units in making good decisions that are in the public interest. Conversely, the Office of State Auditor (OSA) must also investigate when abuses may occur to restore trust in our governmental units and compliance with state and federal laws.
Transparency In Government
Ensure that governmental units and the OSA have access to financial and other records in employment, legal, construction and other contracts to determine that the taxpayers’ best interests and legal requirements are met. Meeting minutes of bodies using taxpayer dollars or where governmental representatives are making policy or financial decisions should also be public. The Auditor can advocate for these policies.
No Golden Parachutes
Executive contracts in governmental units should not conceal perks or compensation to get around reasonable salary and benefit packages. We should offer suggestions how to create good, transparent contracts that meets the letter and spirit of the law. We should also expose abuses when good judgment or common sense is not exercised and go to the appropriate authorities for an appropriate remedy. The Auditor can advocate for these policies.
Create Sustainable Jobs
Are state and federal funds that are going to local governmental units used to create sustainable jobs once funding dries up? Could such funds be better used for private sector job growth in partnership with government? The Auditor can ask these questions.
Legal Fee Abuses
How much money is being spent by government to sue government for more money? In most cases, this is an abuse of taxpayer dollars when differences should be worked out with policy bodies. This should be studied to determine how widespread this problem is and to suggest policy reforms to elected officials. The Auditor can ask these questions.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Abuses
Can you think of any waste in your local units of government or school districts? Have TIF funds gone to legitimate economic development purposes or to political cronies and well-heeled developers without proper standards and oversight? Have people’s or business’ property rights been abused by government through eminent domain, regulatory takings or partial regulatory takings (usually zoning)? The state auditor can ask these questions.
Educate for Taxpayer Interests
The state auditor must be visible throughout Minnesota communities and meet regularly with local governmental officials and policy makers to offer support, training, best practices and recommendations for improvement on behalf of the taxpayer. The activities of the OSA should also be shared with civic and citizen groups, schools and other institutions to keep citizens better informed of how efficiently their governments are working.
Expose Unfunded Mandates and Liabilities
Are governmental units impacted adversely by unfunded mandates? Have decisions been made that create unfunded liabilities for governments and taxpayers due to poor policy or business practices? The state auditor can ask these questions.
Tom needs your help to get endorsed, and ultimately elected, so he can advocate for these taxpayer interests. Tom also welcomes your suggestions or reports of potential abuses that the auditor’s office should be addressing at t.conlonsr@comcast.net.
