The audit of former Governor Siegelman’s expenditures has been completed, and I quote:

The Governor’s Office failed to maintain expenditure documentation in many instances that adequately supported the disbursement of public funds from the Governor’s Contingency Fund in a manner that would allow me to satisfy myself as to the purpose of state government, public service or public benefit and purpose. As a result, my findings and conclusions reported in the Report to the Chief Examiner are based on the available documents and records that were located in the Governor’s Office. Although Governor Siegelman has represented to me that these disbursements were made for a public benefit and purpose, the lack of supporting receipts, travel authorizations, contracts, and other written documentation limited my ability to determine whether public funds were spent in accordance with applicable State laws and regulations. The Schedule of Undocumented Disbursements and Amounts Repaid (Exhibit 6) shows a total of $483,935.70 in undocumented disbursements from the Governor’s Contingency Fund which were not adequately supported in the records of the Governor’s Office. Additionally, the Schedule reflects an amount repaid totaling $38,799.77 at the conclusion of this examination for unallowable disbursements, duplicate payments, personal expenses and other miscellaneous items.

This is precisely why many Alabama citizens will not support new taxes until they are satisfied that the government is accountable for the money it is already receiving. I don’t believe there is rampant corruption, but I certainly believe that public officials should maintain the highest standards of accountability for public funds. To the extent that a public official did not, he/she should be made to reimburse the state, not only for those expenses that he/she believes were made inappropriately, but also for those expenses that are not adequately documented. The citizenry is not simply going to take someone’s word (or even sworn affidavit).

The public will never trust the government until there is full disclosure and accountability for all funds the state receives and expends. There is no reason for secrecy in a democracy, and we certainly should not accept secrecy whenever it occurs. To his credit, Governor Riley is posting expenses from the contingency fund on his website:Contingency Fund Expenditures .