Rebecca Otto Online

Rebecca Otto wins national award for Excellence in Accountability

“Green” State Auditor report contains “some of the most innovative thinking” in U.S.

June 16, 2009

WASHINGTON - The National State Auditors Association (NSAA) has awarded the Best Practices Review: Reducing Energy Costs in Local Government issued by State Auditor Rebecca Otto in July of 2008 its prestigious 2009 NSAA Excellence in Accountability Award for a special project.
“NSAA is privileged to recognize some of the most innovative thinking in the current state auditing environment,” said Tom McTavish, Michigan’s Auditor General and Chair of the NSAA Excellence in Accountability Awards Committee.

Small wind turbines see gust in sales, thanks in part to tax credits
June 19, 2009 2:27 PM CDT

by Bob Geiger | Finance and Commerce

Minnesota Auditor Rebecca Otto, and her husband, Shawn, operate a 12-kilowatt wind turbine at their home in Marine on St. Croix. The turbine provides 80 percent of power they use

When it comes to wind power, small is beautiful.
The same credit crunch that’s depressed real estate has also made banks skittish about lending huge sums for utility scale wind farms, but the downturn is having no effect whatsoever on small wind-turbine manufacturers.

Austin leery of using reserves

City officials disagree with governor on using reserve funds to replace portions of LGA
By Mike Rose | Austin Daily Herald
Published Friday, June 12, 2009
They’re often called rainy day funds. Other times they’re called reserves. No matter the title, Gov. Tim Pawlenty is calling on cities to dip into them given almost certain Local Government Aid cuts — an idea that’s not being well received in Austin.

Brooklyn Center is Exhibit A in aid cuts debate

Brooklyn Center illustrates the complex debate over state aid -- and how much a city can cut before it hurts.
By MIKE KASZUBA, Star Tribune
June 10, 2009
Gov. Tim Pawlenty has not singled out Brooklyn Center when he wonders aloud whether cities are doing enough to cut spending.
But in some ways, the first-ring Minneapolis suburb could serve as a prime exhibit of what the Republican governor said is a major problem as he considers another round of cuts in aid to cities to help balance the state budget through his controversial use of the "unallotment" process.

State auditor offers hints to overcome economic woes

Carolyn Lange, West Central Tribune
Published Wednesday, March 18, 2009

WILLMAR — Calling her job the “Rodney Dangerfield of constitutional offices,” state Auditor Rebecca Otto said she doesn’t “make the rules” but makes sure that the rules are followed when taxpayer money is being spent.

Otto is National Women’s History Month 2009 Honoree

FOREST LAKE TIMES

March 4, 2009

March is National Women’s History Month, and this year Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto of May Township will be a 2009 honoree of the National Women’s History Project.
She is being recognized for her work as a “Woman Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet,” the theme of the 2009 National Women’s History Month.

Cities lean heavily on property taxes to keep functioning
As state and federal assistance dries up, Minnesota's 855 cities are relying more on property taxes for their revenue, a new report finds. And that spells trouble.
By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune
January 15, 2009

It will come as no surprise to Minnesota homeowners that their cities have increasingly relied on property taxes to operate in recent years.
But a new report from the state auditor's office quantifies just how dramatically that reliance has grown -- and has sobering implications at a time when the state faces a massive budget shortfall and home prices statewide are cratering.

MN State Auditor Rebecca Otto releases landmark Best Practices Review on Reducing Energy Costs in Local Governments

Helps local governments address climate change and save taxpayer dollars

July 20, 2008

State Auditor Rebecca Otto today released a landmark Best Practices Review on Reducing Energy Costs in Local Governments.

The thousands of local governments in Minnesota constitute a very large energy footprint. Reducing energy costs at the local government level can have a major impact on the environment and on Minnesota taxpayers' pocketbooks.

State-aid cuts squeeze townships

by Charley Shaw, Staff Writer, FINANCE AND COMMERCE

April 29, 2008
Local governments resort to raising property taxes
Minnesota’s townships have been feeling a financial pinch in the last five years, according to a new report from the State Auditor’s office.
The report, released last week, reported five- and 10-year trends in which state financial support for towns has declined and local property taxes have been increased.

Auditor faults Elysian in city hall purchase

State investigation uncovers sloppy accounting, employee compensation
Sunday, April 20, 2008

By Dan Linehan, Mankato Free Press
ELYSIAN — Shortly after Councilwoman Tiffani Atherton took office in early 2006, she asked her colleagues on the Elysian City Council to request a state audit.
Rumors about city cover-ups swirled in the Le Sueur County town of about 540...

KSTP 5: Discounted speeding tickets?

Sunday, March 30, 2008

It seems too good to be true – a cheaper speeding ticket actually benefiting both the community and traffic offenders. Over 60 cities across the state have begun handing out ‘discounted’ speeding tickets.

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KSTP 5: Rebecca Otto lives completely 'green'

Monday, February 25, 2008

In her day job, she watches how Minnesota cities spend your tax dollars.
But State Auditor Rebecca Otto has a personal passion for living green.

see video

A green power(ed) couple

Saturday, February 9, 2008, Star Tribune

State Auditor Rebecca Otto and her husband, screenwriter Shawn Otto, were billed as "perhaps Minnesota's highest-profile environmental couple"

Goverment lobbying costs fall

Friday, January 18, 2008

Scott Wente, Minn. State Capitol Bureau

ST. PAUL The Minnesota Capitol complex is rife with lobbyists during legislative sessions, there to advocate for businesses and interest groups

Office of the State Auditor Makes a Big Change
New Web site unveiled to improve access to local government finances

January 17, 2008

State Auditor Rebecca Otto today unveiled a new web site. The main goals of this new and improved web site are to be user-friendly for all audiences, to allow visitors to be just two clicks away from the information they are seeking, and to be secure.