By BRENT MARTIN
Someone seeking a state audit of a governmental body has the option of calling the Missouri State Auditor’s whistleblower hotline.
State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick urges anyone with concerns to call the hotline.
“So, we encourage people to contact the Whistleblower Hotline and one of the reasons we like to talk about audits at the beginning of the audit is so that people listening know that if they have information that could be useful to us in the audit, they can get that to us in a variety of ways,” Fitzpatrick tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
And while a whistleblower doesn’t have to give a reason, those calling the hotline will be asked about the motivation behind the request.
“No, they don’t have to give a reason,” Fitzpatrick says. “They generally do give a reason, because typically the first contact is, hey, we want you to do an audit and the question that we ask is okay why, what’s the reason for the audit, what are your concerns with the entity?”
A phone call isn’t the only way to the Auditor Whistleblower Hotline, but that number is 1-800-347-8597.
You can also go to the Auditor’s webpage and request an audit. Email also works at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov.
Taxpayers can also gather signatures on a petition to require the Missouri State Auditor to conduct an audit. A resident of the St. Joseph School District is circulating a petition requesting a state audit of the district.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ