Republican state auditor would get more say over NC government cuts in bill moving in Senate

North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a proposal to give the state auditor more influence over cuts to government agencies.

The Senate Regulatory Reform Committee gave preliminary approval to Senate Bill 474, which sponsors call the DAVE Act — an acronym for the unit it would create: the Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency. It would be housed within State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office.

The state auditor is already tasked with making sure government programs are using their resources properly. The bill, sponsored by Republican Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, instructs Boliek to produce a report by the end of the year that identifies which state agencies and state positions can be dissolved.

Democrats in the committee said they worry could lead to cuts that actually hurt government efficiency.

The bill asks Boliek to identify state government positions that have been vacant for six months or more. Just because a position is vacant doesn’t mean it’s unnecessary, said state Sen. Sophia Chitlik, D-Durham. A position may be open because of the way the job is advertised or compensated, she said.

“I'm concerned that we think that just because it takes a while to fill some of these positions — and it does, I agree that this is a problem — that (some might think) a place like the child adolescent unit at Central Regional Hospital in Granville doesn't need a new psychiatrist,” Chitlik said.

Ardis Watkins, executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, shared similar concerns.

“This entire conversation mainly concerns me because it presupposes that a discussion of government efficiency is a conversation of position efficiency, Watkins said, adding that she worries about the demonization of public workers.

Democrats also expressed concern that the bill would allow Boliek’s team to use artificial intelligence to examine state agencies and their budgets.

State Sen. Caleb Theodros, D-Mecklenburg, said he wished Berger’s bill more clearly defined how AI could be used to review government efficiency.

“I think artificial intelligence introduces a level of objectivity that's often impossible for people to use,” Theodros said. However, he added, “I think without it having some kind of constraints within the bill, it's a bit too broad, because there are some decisions a human has to make

Berger reminded critics at multiple points during the meeting that state legislators — not the auditor — would have final say over funding for state agencies. The bill does not give Boliek the authority to cut state employees outside of his own office.

Republican legislators have been seeking to give Boliek more power since he was elected in November. Before Boliek took office, GOP legislators passed a law that took away the governor's control over the State Board of Elections and gave it to the auditor’s office. Republicans in the House are advancing a bill that would require Boliek to conduct periodic audits of state agencies to make sure they’re complying with a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

Boliek, who attended the meeting and spoke in support of the DAVE Act, vowed to examine agencies through a nonpartisan lens and said his team would review reports generated by artificial intelligence. He said the auditor’s office could do a better job of making sure state funds are spent the way legislators intended for them to be spent.

The bill “formalizes the work that needs to be done,” Boliek said. “And my commitment to you is to do it in a structured approach that is based on data, not emotion.”

Berger’s bill comes amid a national push by Republican lawmakers to strip the government of agencies, employees and ideas that they find ineffective or unnecessary.

The state effort comes as Republican President Donald Trump focuses on slashing federal government spending. Trump created the federal Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — an agency that has inspired similar efforts on the state level.

Republican state House members have summoned several top state government leaders to testify under oath about their offices’ work. Those hearings have frequently focused on government efficiency and spending.

Berger’s bill still needs support from the House and Senate to become law. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans.

Democratic Gov. Josh Stein would have to sign it into law if it passes in the legislature.

In his State of the State address last month, Stein also demonstrated a desire to make government more cost-effective. He announced that he asked his budget office to create what he called an “impact center.”

“We have to be fiscally prudent — to be smart about how we invest taxpayers’ dollars,” Stein said in prepared remarks. He said he created the center “to ensure our government is run effectively and efficiently, because people should know that their tax dollars are being well spent.”

“But let’s get this right,” he added. “Let’s use a scalpel, not a chainsaw.”