History of OLAG

Dr. Lennis Knighton, CPA
1975 - 1977

1972 - Utah voters granted constitutional authority (Article VI, Section 33) for the Legislature to establish the office.

1975 – On March 15th under SB 218, the Office of Legislative Auditor General was established.

1976 - The office released its first audit, “A Study of the Accounting and Control System of the Utah State Legislature and Legislative Offices” in January.

1977 - Key audits on legislative travel, drivers’ requirements, mental health, and central accounting released.

Click here to read Dr. Knighton's first address to the legislature.

Mont Kenney, CPA
1977 - 1983

1977 - As requested by the Legislative Management Committee, the office conducted its first financial audit. 46 recommendations were made to the University of Utah.

1978 - The office's 50th audit was released on November 2nd.

1983 - The office's 100th audit was released on January 24th.

Wayne Welsh, CPA
1983 - 2004

1987 - NCSL awarded the office for excellence in program evaluation.

1989 - Audit on the state Retirement System released. The office found significant misuse of funds by the state retirement system.

2001 – NSCL awarded the office for excellence in program evaluation.

2002 - Audit on the Judicial Conduct Commission released which lead to clarification on the authority of the office.

John Schaff, CIA
2004 - 2018

2013 - The office conducted its first in-depth budget review, starting with the Department of Corrections.

2017 - NSCL awarded the office for excellence in research methods for an audit of the payday loan industry.

2018 – The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business and the Community Foundation of Utah presented the office the Utah Ethical Leadership Award for Government.

2020 - John Schaff received NCSL Legislative Staff Achievement Award for his work as Auditor General.

Kade Minchey, CIA, CFE
2019 - Present

2019 - The office created a strategic plan that included our purpose, mission statement, values, vision, and initiatives. Since its initial release, the office implemented initiatives to redesign the website, enhance webtools, digitize reports, and redesign administrative support.

2021 - Utah Code was expanded to include Public Education as part of the in-depth budget review process.

2022 – The report structure and website was rebranded to promote readability and access to tools, resources, and transparency of processes.

2023 - NSCL awarded the office for excellence in program evaluation.

2023 - The office was expanded to include the Divisions of Government Excellence and Education Excellence.

2023 - The Legislature added an investigation function and oversight of state internal audit divisions to the office's authority.

2023 - The office released our 850th audit in June.

Click here to review a summary of the office's recent achievements.