Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Senator Ross Picked For Committee

State Sen. Mike Ross of Prescott has been chosen to serve on the Legislative Joint Audit Committee and was chosen as first alternate on the Legislative Council.

Ross was selected for the committee assignments by fellow senators who represent districts in the U.S. Fourth Congressional District.

"It's gratifying to be chosen for these committee assignments by my colleagues," Ross said. "It will mean a lot of hard work, but I'm looking forward to the challege."

The Legislative Audit Committee meets in the intermin between sessions to review spending practices of state agencies, cities, counties, public schools and institutions of higher education. If members uncover faulty accounting, they recommend more thorough procedures so that public money is properly spent and accounted for.

In more serious cases when the committee discovers that money is missing or taken, the committee can recommend an investigation by law enforcement authorites.

The Legislative Council also meets in the iterim between sessions to review spending by state agencies to make sure revenues are spent according to appropriations passed by the legislature. The council also make sure that agencies live within their budgets as required by the state's balanced budget law.

The council has numerous subcommittees, each with important duties. For example, one subcommittee reviews rules and regulations promulgated by state agencies. Another reviews contracts between state departments and private businesses. Another subcommittee keeps track of fund transfers between separate divisions of state agencies.

Ross represents Senate District 3, which comprises parts of Columbia, Clark and Ouachita Counties, as well as all of Nevada County.