The Legislative Budget and Audit Committee convened Tuesday morning for a session that combined routine oversight with prudent fiscal housekeeping. The committee received a clean independent audit of the Alaska State Legislature’s FY25 financial activity, approved a one-year extension of a federal compliance audit contract, and authorized the preliminary release of the statewide single audit while receiving a confidential update on the ongoing oil and gas production tax audit process.
State Legislative Auditor Kris Curtis presented the FY25 Legislator Independent Audit, confirming that the independent firm issued an unqualified (clean) opinion. The schedules of appropriations, expenditures, encumbrances, and revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, were found free of material misstatement. Curtis noted the audit is a statutory annual requirement and had already been reviewed by Legislative Council; its separate identification before the Budget and Audit Committee ensures full transparency over the legislature’s own appropriation.
“The independent auditor had a clean opinion,” Curtis stated. “They believe these schedules are free from material misstatement, and it’s included as basically a for-your-information type of agenda item.”
With no questions from members, the committee moved to the contract extension for CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), the firm conducting federal compliance audits of major state programs. Vice Chair Rep. Zack Fields (D-Anchorage) moved unanimous consent to approve a one-year, $170,000 extension, raising the not-to-exceed amount to $395,000, payable from existing funds. Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson (D-Anchorage) initially objected for discussion, confirming the extension supports required federal single-audit work and fits within the committee’s budget capacity. No further concerns were raised, and the motion passed without objection.
The committee then entered executive session to discuss matters potentially affecting government finances and confidential audit information. Upon returning to open session, Vice Chair Fields moved to release the preliminary FY25 State of Alaska Single Audit to agencies for response. The motion carried unanimously. Chair Jackson reminded attendees that the document remains confidential until final release next month.
Jackson also noted that members received a brief, statutorily confidential update on the special audit of the Oil and Gas Production Tax Audit Process during executive session. She emphasized that neither she nor any committee member may comment publicly on the ongoing work at this stage, underscoring the importance of protecting the integrity of the audit.
The committee set its next meeting for Wednesday, April 22, at 5:15 p.m., to address the final single-audit release, time-sensitive procurements, and other committee business.
