News Category

Category: News

A New Era of Fiscal Transparency and Accountability for California

Introduction

California’s state budget exceeds $300 billion annually, yet taxpayers often remain in the dark about how their money is spent. As State Controller, I will use the full powers of the office—not just to report what has already happened, but to actively drive fiscal discipline, expose inefficiency, and empower citizens to hold government accountable in real time.

The Controller’s office is uniquely positioned to act as a watchdog for public spending—but for too long, the office has operated reactively rather than proactively. It’s time for a transformation.

The Untapped Authority of the Controller's Office

The California State Controller holds a remarkable combination of powers: as the chief fiscal officer, the Controller has audit authority over every state agency, power to disburse funds, and access to every ledger and account in the state system. This is not a ceremonial role—it is a front line role in protecting taxpayers from fraud, waste, and abuse.

Yet these powers are underutilized:

Performance Audits Are Rare: Despite the authority to conduct performance audits, few are initiated, and most are backward-looking. We are not doing enough to evaluate whether programs deliver results.
Real-Time Fiscal Oversight Is Absent: California agencies are not required to report spending data in real-time. This opens the door to mismanagement and hidden liabilities.
Disbursement Authority Is Passive: While the Controller must approve payments, that process is largely procedural. Little scrutiny is applied to questionable expenditures unless flagged by external actors.

My Vision: Radical Transparency Through Blockchain and Real-Time Audits

As Controller, I will revolutionize how Californians interact with their government’s finances. My core initiative is simple but powerful:

Put Every Agency Ledger Online and On-Chain

We will create the nation’s first blockchain-based public finance platform for state government. Every dollar spent by any state agency will be published in real-time on an immutable ledger, accessible to every Californian, every watchdog group, every journalist, and every data scientist.

Transparency Without Red Tape: No more public records requests. If it’s taxpayer money, the public sees it—instantly.
Citizen-Powered Oversight: By democratizing access to financial data, we enable grassroots accountability. Anyone with data skills can help identify anomalies, conflicts of interest, or runaway spending.
AI and Community-Driven Red Flags: Integrate AI and crowdsourcing to flag suspicious patterns in spending—turning every concerned citizen into a fiscal watchdog.

Moving From Annual Audits to Real-Time Audits

Traditional audits are slow and retrospective. By the time issues are identified, millions may already be wasted.

As Controller, I will:

Transition to Continuous Auditing: Implement audit algorithms and real-time monitoring dashboards across agencies to detect financial irregularities as they happen—not after the fact.
Tie Audits to Outcomes: Conduct performance audits that track not just where money goes, but what it achieves. Spending without results is just a different kind of waste.
Expand Audit Scope: Many programs and special funds go years without audit review. I will prioritize auditing areas of chronic overspending or opaque budgeting—starting with special districts and contractor-heavy departments.

Efficiency Through Enforcement

The Controller’s office can—and should—deny disbursements when statutory compliance is in question. I will:

Establish a Waste, Fraud & Abuse Strike Force within the office, working with whistle-blowers, auditors, and investigative journalists.

Require higher levels of documentation and justification before releasing funds to any agency with a history of audit findings or financial mismanagement.

Leverage public shaming tools, publishing a “Transparency Scorecard” for agencies based on audit results, responsiveness, and spending integrity.

Conclusion: A Controller Who Works for You

I am running to turn the Controller’s office into a powerful, proactive engine of accountability—one that doesn’t just close the books but opens them wide.

With the tools of blockchain, real-time audits, and a refusal to rubber-stamp inefficiency, I will ensure that every dollar spent by the State of California serves the people of California.

We will no longer tolerate business as usual. It’s time for a new era of fiscal transparency—powered by technology, driven by citizens, and enforced by a Controller who works for the people.