Ad focuses on making state spending easier for Nevadans to see.
If you have ever wondered where your tax dollars actually go once they leave your paycheck, Nevada Controller Andy Matthews wants you to know he has been thinking about that too.
This week, Matthews announced a new statewide TV ad campaign as part of his push for re-election. The ad, called “Penny,” will run on digital and streaming platforms across Nevada.
It focuses on one big idea. Government should show its work, just like a student doing math homework.
In a statement, Matthews said:
“Today is an exciting and important day for this campaign.
I’m proud of my record as a champion for government transparency, and I look forward to taking my message to Nevada’s voters and earning their trust for a second term as Controller.”
Why This Matters
For many voters, this issue indeed comes down to trust. If you believe government should stay small and stick to its lane, you probably also believe taxpayers deserve to see exactly how their money is spent.
If you handed your neighbor cash to fix your roof, you would want a receipt. Matthews says his goal as Controller has been to give Nevadans that kind of receipt for state spending.
According to the campaign, Matthews delivered on this idea early in his term by launching an online checkbook for the state, found at checkbook.nv.gov.
The site is meant to let anyone look up real-time details on how state agencies are spending money.
For those who believe smaller, more accountable government leads to better outcomes, that kind of tool is a big deal. It turns an abstract idea like “government transparency” into something you can actually click on and search.
What Matthews Says He Has Done So Far
Matthews, a Republican, was elected Controller back in 2022. He previously served in the Nevada Assembly representing District 37, and before that led the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank.
His campaign says he has raised more than $410,000 for this re-election bid, which they describe as the most ever raised by a candidate running for Controller in Nevada history.
Beyond the online checkbook, Matthews has worked with city and county governments around Nevada to help them build their own transparency websites. He says he wants to keep expanding that effort in a second term.
His office has also worked on upgrading the state’s financial, human resources, and information technology systems, along with changing how the state reports its finances.
The Bigger Fight Over an Inspector General
During the 2025 legislative session, Matthews pushed for a bill to create a Nevada Office of Inspector General. The idea was simple. An independent watchdog would audit groups that receive state funding to make sure tax dollars are being spent the way they were supposed to be spent.
Democrats in the Legislature blocked the bill.
What Might Happen Next
If Matthews wins re-election, expect him to reintroduce the Inspector General bill in the next legislative session. Whether it passes will likely depend on which party controls the Legislature after the 2026 elections.
Nevadans who want to see this kind of oversight office become law may want to pay close attention to state legislative races, not just the Controller’s race, since one office alone cannot pass a bill.
For voters who care about limited government and transparency, this race offers a clear question. Do you want to keep the person who built the state’s online checkbook, or hand the job to someone new?
That answer will likely shape how visible Nevada’s spending stays in the years ahead.
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.
