HB 4097 (SB 1851) – Audit accountability

HB 4097 strengthens financial transparency and accountability in local government by penalizing cities that ignore basic audit and reporting obligations. If a municipality fails to complete and file its annual audit and financial statements on time, any citizen can report the violation to the Attorney General. If the violation is confirmed, the city is prohibited from raising property taxes above the no-new-revenue tax rate until it complies. This ensures taxpayers aren’t punished by higher taxes when their local officials neglect financial transparency. It incentivizes sound fiscal governance, and empowers citizens to hold local governments accountable without creating new layers of regulation.