Will Auditor Dave be North Carolina's Elon Musk?

North Carolina wants to jump on the DOGE bandwagon by instituting a similar thrust in our state. Both houses of our legislature have begun initiatives to curb waste and mismanagement. The House formed a select committee on government efficiency. Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger filed Senate Bill 474, the DAVE act.

This bill would create a new division within the State Auditor’s Office, to be called the Division of Accountability, Value and Efficiency. It is not lost on many that the acronym for this division also spells out the name of  State Auditor, Dave Boliek, Jr.

The proposed legislation would require EVERY state agency to report to Auditor Dave how they spend their money, then require the Auditor to put together, by the end of this year, a report on which agencies and jobs can be cut.

Most all of us want state government to work better, spend less money, reduce red tape and provide better customer services, while employing as few people as necessary. But as I stated in a column several weeks ago, we’ve traveled down this road before.

There is a legislative subcommittee charged with much the same mission called The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Operations (GOVOPS). Then there was the PEP (Program Evaluation Committee); GEAR, Governor McCrory’s Government Efficiency and Reform initiative; and the 2017 Results First Initiative. But the granddaddy of them all was the 1991 GPAC (Government Performance and Audit Committee) initiated during Governor Martin’s term. We spent several million dollars getting one of the big national accounting firms to make a comprehensive study of state agencies and programs, then make recommendations how state government could work better. Little meaningful reform resulted from GPAC. I’m sure there have been other efforts, but the point is we’ve been there and done that with so little to result from it.

Now we need to start yet another initiative? The fact that Senator Berger is a primary sponsor says a lot. He usually gets what he wants.

This legislation has problems within problems!

For starters, lawmakers have more important things to do this year. Amidst all the changes coming out of Washington the requirement for a thorough examination of all state agencies isn’t likely to happen, unless lawmakers intend to stay in session until Christmas…or later.   

But the biggest problem with the DAVE act is its unfairness. Lawmakers are going to have to depend heavily upon the Auditor’s recommendations. We are going to give what is largely a bunch of accountants (no offense intended) the task of recommending who among their fellow state employees loses their jobs? And which programs are working as well as which ones aren’t?

This onerous task will be assigned in addition to conducting audits on state agencies and the new task overseeing elections. They are already short-staffed.

There is no way they can undertake such a project without LOTS of new staff and without spending lots of additional money to investigate, write reports and make recommendations. But wait a minute: Wasn’t the initial idea to save money?

But the biggest fairness issue is to the Auditor himself? I’ve known Dave Boliek, Jr. since he was wearing knee pants and I can testify he is an extremely bright guy. His father Dave Sr. was one of the best newsmen I ever worked with. But Auditor Dave has fewer than 100 days in office. Prior to being elected Auditor his experience in state government was limited to being a member of the UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees and of serving a term as its chair. I don’t care how smart you are it’s not fair to put Dave (or anyone) in this hot seat.

Lawmakers stated forcefully they don’t want Boliek to become another Elon Musk, but there will be comparisons.

The Elon Poll released last week revealed that voters are skeptical about what is taking place on the federal level. Asked about 14 federal agencies, a plurality said they favored minor or no cuts in them. 51 percent said they don’t trust Elon Musk is working in the best interests of the country. Protests are spreading, as was evidenced last week at the Tesla dealership on Raleigh or in counties, like Pamlico, where 100 people turned out to protest the lack of support for Ukraine. More are coming.

A dramatic slash and burn of state government will result in many incumbents losing their seats.

The 2026 elections are not too far away!

Before the DAVE bill becomes law we need much more information about what is expected, how it will be implemented, what roles people will play, how our legislature will deal with the reports they receive and where they anticipate this will all end.

Or is it just window dressing, something legislators can tell folks they are doing to make government more efficient?

Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965.  Contact him at tomcamp@carolinabroadcasting.com