What Does the Comptroller's Office Do?
Paymaster - The Comptroller General's Office was created in 1800 as "Paymaster" to supervise the expenditure of all state funds. All payrolls for state employees, vouchers for bills owed by the state and interdepartmental payments between state agencies are submitted to the Comptroller General. These payments are scrutinized to ensure they are proper and that the funds are available to cover the expense. Upon approval, a warrant is issued authorizing the State Treasurer to make the payment. Accounting - The office maintains accounting controls for all state agencies and all funds in the state budget. The Comptroller General issues the state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which is used by national firms to determine the state's bond rating for borrowing. Other Responsibilities - The office also supervises the collection of property taxes, administers the Homestead Exemption Program for senior citizens and the disabled, the Property Tax Relief Program and the Merchants' Inventory Exemption Program. The Comptroller General is also a voting member of the State Budget and Control Board. |
Special Initiatives Local tax reform - Jim Lander has led the fight for a comprehensive reform of the local government tax system, which has evolved in an ad hoc manner over the years. The General Assembly endorsed his idea of creating a committee to study the tax structure of cities, counties and school districts and building a new system that fits the economy structure of the 21st Century. Inspector General - Citing a gap in state government accountability, Jim Lander continues to build support for the idea of establishing a state inspector general. Modeled after an idea used in other states, an inspector general would examine reports of waste and fraud involving state agencies or the use of public money. Jim Lander believes such a program could pay for itself over time by discovering efficiencies and calling attention to inappropriate activities. Financial reporting model - For more than two years, Jim Lander's office has been providing training and detailed guidance to state agencies to help ensure that the state can issue timely statewide financial statements in compliance with the new financial reporting model (GASB #34) as required by the national Governmental Accounting Standards Board beginning with the 2001-2002 fiscal year. Auditor certification of compliance with the new model is expected to assist South Carolina keep its interest costs low and its credit ratings high. SCEIS - "South Carolina Enterprise Information System" - The Comptroller General has taken a lead role in the effort to move the state to an enterprise solution for agency and statewide financial administration. In 2001, the state selected, through competitive bid KPMG Consulting Inc., along with SAP America, and Team IA Inc. for the "Multi-Agency Contract for an Agency Level Financial System". In addition, an oversight committee, made up of representatives from across state government, was appointed by Comptroller General Jim Lander to provide oversight and direction for the adoption and implementation of this solution. The SC Department of Mental Health was selected as the pilot agency and is currently in the process of implementing the system, with an expected ready date of November 1, 2002. The state is also in the process of formulating a Business Case Study and Plan that will provide a roadmap toward the strategic goal of an enterprise solution. This will allow the state to continue it's national leadership in governmental financial reporting and financial administration, as well as, provide for greater efficiencies in the day-to-day administration of state government agencies. Document Management and Imaging - In addition to the SCEIS the Comptroller General has undertaken a project to provide for the imaging and electronic document management of the state's financial documents. The goal of this project is to reduce, or remove entirely, paper documents used in conducting the state's financial activities. Currently, nearly 2 million financial documents are received for processing annually by the Comptroller General's office. A pilot implementation for documents relating to the SC Department of Mental Health, the SC State Senate and the SC House of Representatives has been successfully completed. The Comptroller General has plans to expand this pilot implementation as resources become available. This project is also linked to the SCEIS ERP project. The South Carolina Military Base Task Force -
On October 4, 2001, the Governor established the South Carolina Military Base Task Force by Executive Order (2001-31). Comptroller General Jim Lander was asked to chair this important Task Force since he had an extensive background and knowledge in military matters. The Task Force is charged with coordinating efforts to maintain the current level of military presence in South Carolina. General Lander issued a statement that the mission of the Task Force was: "To insure that our nation's leaders understand the critical role that South Carolina's military installations play in the nation's defense and the vital role they play in the state's economic well being and to insure that these installations continue to stand as crucial parts of our nation's military structure." |