Nevada State Controller

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State Controller of Nevada
Great Seal of the State of Nevada
Incumbent
Andy Matthews
since January 2, 2023
Style
SeatNevada State Capitol
Carson City, Nevada
AppointerGeneral election
Term lengthFour years, no term limits
Constituting instrumentNevada Constitution of 1864, Article V
Inaugural holderAlanson W. Nightingill
FormationOctober 31, 1864
(159 years ago)
 (October 31, 1864)
Salary$110,451[1]
WebsiteOfficial page

The Nevada State Controller is a constitutional officer in the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Nevada. Twenty-two individuals have held the office of State Controller since statehood. The incumbent is Andy Matthews, a Republican.

Powers and duties

The State Controller is the chief fiscal officer for the state of Nevada. In practice, this means the State Controller is responsible for administering the state’s accounting system and regulating the disbursement of public funds. These disparate activities serve two objectives: foremost, to provide citizens, state agencies, local governments and legislators alike with accurate and impartial information on Nevada's financial condition; and second, to protect state funds by ensuring that they are properly accounted for and spent in the most efficient and cost effective manner at all times.[2]

Governmental accounting

With respect to accounting, the State Controller processes and records the state’s financial transactions, settles the accounts of county treasurers and receivers of state tax revenues, collects debts owed the state, and ensures compliance with constitutional, statutory, and regulatory internal controls.[3] In keeping with this function, the State Controller prepares the state of Nevada's financial statements and schedule of expenditures of federal awards, which are in turn audited by external auditors approved by the Legislative Auditor.[4] The State Controller is also charged with recommending plans to the Legislature for the support of the public credit, to promote frugality and efficiency within state government operations, and better manage the state's cash flow.[5] This mandate for accountability extends to the State Controller's reports on the financial health of Nevada's Permanent School Fund, a permanent fund created at statehood and derived from the proceeds of liquidated State Trust Lands to support public schools throughout the state indefinitely. Using fund accounting techniques, the State Controller issues quarterly reports on the fund's revenues, expenditures, investment performance, and balances.[6] The State Controller's Office publishes these reports online.[7]

Disbursements of public money

In most states, the accounts payable and cash management functions are performed by different state officials. The same reality holds true in Nevada, where the State Controller (as chief fiscal officer) processes accounts payable while the State Treasurer (as chief banker and investment officer) is responsible for cash management. Thus, the State Controller registers vendors procured by state agencies, administers payroll to state employees, audits and allows - or disallows - claims against the state, and issues warrants on the state treasury in payment of claims allowed.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] This important separation of duties assures no sum of money can be paid out by the State Treasurer except with the prior authorization of the State Controller.

Other responsibilities

The State Controller is a member of the State Board of Finance, the Executive Branch Audit Committee, and the Transportation Board of Directors. The State Board of Finance approves and periodically reviews the State Treasurer's investment policies for both the State Investment Fund and the assets held in the Local Government Pooled Investment Fund.[15] On the other hand, the Executive Branch Audit Committee sets the annual internal audit plan of the Office of Finance and receives its final audit reports.[16][17] Finally, the Transportation Board of Directors is an independent policymaking body that oversees the governance and financial administration of the Nevada Department of Transportation.[18] In addition to the State Controller, the Transportation Board of Directors consists of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and four gubernatorial appointees representing DOT's three service regions.[19]

List of state controllers

  Democratic (6)   Republican (15)   Silver (2)

# State Controller Party Term start Term end
1 Alanson W. Nightingill   Republican 1864 1867
2 William K. Parkinson   Republican 1867 1869
3 Lewis Doron   Republican 1869 1871
4 William W. Hobart   Republican 1871 1879
5 James F. Hallock   Republican 1879 1891
6 Robert L. Horton   Republican 1891 1895
7 C. A. LaGrave   Silver 1895 1899
8 Sam P. Davis   SilverDemocratic 1899 1907
9 Jacob Eggers   Republican 1907 1915
10 George A. Cole   Democratic 1915 1927
11 Edward C. Peterson   Republican 1927 1935
12 Henry C. Schmidt   Democratic 1935 1947
13 Jerome P. Donovan   Democratic 1947 1951
14 Peter Merialdo   Republican 1951 1959
15 Keith L. Lee   Democratic 1959 1967
16 Wilson McGowan   Republican 1967 1983
17 Darrel R. Daines   Republican 1983 1999
18 Kathy Augustine   Republican 1999 2006
19 Steve Martin   Republican 2006 2007
20 Kim Wallin   Democratic 2007 2015
21 Ron Knecht   Republican 2015 2019
22 Catherine Byrne   Democratic 2019 2023
23 Andy Matthews   Republican 2023 present

References

  1. ^ Catherine Byrne Salary Report (Report). Transparent Nevada. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  2. ^ "Responsibilities of the State Controller". Nevada State Controller's Office. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  3. ^ "Section 227.150, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)". Nevada State Controller's Office. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Section 227.110, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "Sections 387.013, 387.035, and 387.040, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  7. ^ "Permanent School Fund". Nevada State Controller's Office. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Section 227.160, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Section 227.170, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "Section 227.180, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "Section 227.185, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Section 227.190, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "Section 227.200, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  14. ^ "Section 227.205, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  15. ^ Nevada State Treasurer's Office. "Board of Finance Information". State of Nevada. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  16. ^ "Executive Branch Audit Committee". Governor's Finance Office. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  17. ^ "Chapter 353A, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  18. ^ "Chapter 408, Nevada Revised Statutes". Nevada State Legislature. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Transportation Board of Directors". Nevada Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 15, 2022.

External links