A Washington think tank recently criticized Nevada for late financial reports. But they’re missing the bigger picture.
Nevada has the right person running our state’s finances. Controller Andy Matthews is exactly what we need – a proven fiscal conservative who rolls up his sleeves and fixes problems instead of making excuses.
Matthews inherited a broken system and turned it around fast. That’s leadership conservatives can be proud of.
The Real Story: A Leader Who Delivers
When Matthews took office in January 2023, he found a mess. The controller’s office had just one person who could review the state’s massive financial reports. One person for the entire state of Nevada.
Previous administrations let the system fall apart. Reports that should take six months were taking over two years. State agencies got sloppy about sending their data on time. Nobody seemed to care about deadlines.
Matthews didn’t complain or point fingers. He got to work.
First, he convinced the Legislature to approve more than $760,000 in new funding. That money quadrupled the number of people who can review these reports. He hired new staff and reorganized his office for better efficiency.
Matthews said:
“If you only have one person who’s even allowed to review, that’s obviously a bottleneck problem.”
So he fixed the bottleneck.
He also worked with Governor Lombardo to make sure state agencies actually do their jobs. Some had gotten lazy about meeting deadlines. Matthews ended that culture of complacency.
The controller explained there had been “100 percent turnover” in the team responsible for creating reports since 2019. He inherited people who didn’t know how to do the work. Instead of making excuses, he trained them.
Matthews: The Conservative Champion Nevada Needed
This is why we elected Matthews. He earned the highest number of votes of any Nevada Republican in 2022. Voters saw his record and trusted him with their tax dollars.
Before taking office, Matthews served as president of the Nevada Policy Research Institute. He fought bad tax policies and promoted government transparency. He knows how to make government work better for taxpayers.
As an assemblyman, he pushed bills to improve government efficiency and accountability. He’s been consistent his whole career – smaller government, lower taxes, and honest reporting.
Matthews also launched Nevada’s online checkbook at checkbook.nv.gov. Now taxpayers can see exactly where their money goes. That’s real transparency in action.
What the Critics Don’t Understand
Truth in Accounting, the Washington group putting Nevada in the hot seat, doesn’t know our state or our people.
Their CEO complained that governments should work like corporations. But she ignores a key fact – Matthews kept Nevada’s bond rating strong throughout this transition. Creditors stayed confident because he communicated with them directly.
Nevada avoided any serious consequences from the reporting delays. That’s because Matthews handled the situation professionally.
When a cyberattack hit Nevada’s systems, it prevented publishing the completed 2023 report online. Matthews had actually finished the report on time, but couldn’t post it due to security issues. The critics didn’t bother to learn those details.
Looking Ahead: More Success Coming
Matthews says future reports will come out much faster. His office has better systems, more staff, and clearer processes. State agencies know they’ll be held accountable for meeting deadlines.
He credits “a bipartisan effort” with lawmakers and the governor to improve financial reporting.
Matthews said:
“We’re in the process, I believe, of writing a really great bipartisan success story.”
That’s leadership. Finding solutions instead of excuses. Building coalitions instead of making enemies. Getting results instead of playing politics.
What Conservatives Should Do
First, recognize good government when we see it. Matthews represents everything we believe in – fiscal responsibility, transparency, and competent management. Support leaders like him.
Second, recognize when the criticism is coming from the beltway in Washington DC.
Third, appreciate the bigger picture. Matthews didn’t just fix the reporting delays. He improved Nevada’s entire financial management system. That benefits taxpayers for years to come.
Finally, remember this example when voting. Character matters in elected officials. Matthews shows what happens when you choose someone with integrity, experience, and work ethic over empty promises and political games.
Nevada couldn’t ask for a better controller. We’re lucky to have Andy Matthews watching our tax dollars.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
