The North Dakota Senate Appropriations - Government Operations Division meeting on March 11, 2025, focused on key issues regarding workforce retention and training for government auditors and local governments.

A significant discussion centered on the challenges of retaining qualified staff within the auditing sector. Officials highlighted the extensive training required for new auditors, estimating that it takes about three years to fully prepare a new employee. This lengthy training period, combined with the high demand for skilled auditors in both public and private sectors, has made retention difficult. The agency is actively working to keep its experienced auditors through competitive compensation and a supportive organizational culture, emphasizing the importance of retaining talent to provide valuable services to the state.

Another major topic was the training and education initiatives for local governments. The agency recently hired a training and education coordinator, a move supported by the legislature. This coordinator has been instrumental in addressing the reporting requirements for local governments and has engaged in various outreach efforts, including live training sessions at multiple conferences. Additionally, she is developing a video series on government accounting topics, with the first series focusing on revenue types for local governments. Future topics will include expenses and internal control environments, aimed at providing accessible resources for smaller governments.

Overall, the meeting underscored the commitment to enhancing the skills of government employees and supporting local governments in their operations. The positive feedback from local governments indicates a strong desire to improve their practices, reflecting a shared goal of effective governance.