Kentucky's Auditor of Public Accounts has been busy in the past couple of years. The Department of Agriculture, special taxing districts and public school superintendents have all had a hard look. Most recently, it was Kentucky Emergency Management's turn.

A report released by Auditor Adam Edelen's office reveals some serious problems within the agency:

• a work environment not up to ethical standards

• altered documents to obscure financial expenditures

• unnecessary/unreasonable conference expenses

• much more...

We have said this time and time again but it does bear repeating: without transparency there is no way for citizens to hold government accountable. It goes without saying that the results of this audit are disappointing. Taxpayers deserve to have their hard-earned money managed and used in a respectful and judicious manner NOT squandered on extravagances and concealed from the public eye.

I strongly suggest taking a look at the audit for yourself. The appendices have copies of actual altered invoices which provide rare insight to how this corruption and waste actual occurs and is covered up.

If anything, Auditor Edelen has proven that wasteful spending and mismanagement can be rooted out. Perhaps this can help to signal a culture change within  any other state agencies that operate in a wasteful manner.