Editorial: Controller not needed

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004 | 9:03 a.m.

Since 1995 there have been periodic attempts in the Nevada Legislature to abolish the elected position of controller and merge the office's staff with that of the state treasurer. With the office back in the news, the result of Controller Kathy Augustine's impeachment on allegations of campaign fraud, this is a good time to renew the issue.

The controller's office receives and reviews the state's bills. The controller co-signs the checks, along with the state treasurer. Under Augustine, the office also runs a debt-collection program, which tries to get people who owe money to the state to pay up. The office was written into the state Constitution in the 19th century. Scandals were rampant in those days and a people's representative was considered necessary.

We see the office now as archaic, as there are several checks and balances in place to ensure that money is being handled properly. With added staff from the controller's office, the treasurer could easily take on that office's responsibilities.

A bill draft has been submitted for consideration by the 2005 Legislature. It once again calls for the elimination of the controller's office. This time, we hope the Legislature approves the bill, as the controller's office has outlived its usefulness.