Reprinted from

State auditor making changes

Don Davis, Minn. State Capitol Bureau Chief, Forum Communications Company

Published Monday, January 21, 2008

The Minnesota state auditor, charged with overseeing local governments' finances, is making some changes.

Auditor Rebecca Otto, a Democrat, unveiled a new Web site, www.auditor.state.mn.us to make it easier for Minnesotans to find reports about local governments.

Also, Otto has launched a program to find the best methods local governments have found to save energy costs.

This topic is timely given rising energy costs and growing public awareness around energy conservation, Otto said. We have heard from officials at all levels of local government - towns, cities, counties and school districts - who would like this review to be a resource for local governments, as they consider making decisions about how to reduce energy costs.