Auditors clear former Commerce Department director of wrongdoing

An annual report into fraud, waste and abuse in Montana shows that the number of reports may have increased in 2024, but the Legislative Audit Division that oversees the complaint investigation said the number of cases that have resulted in disciplinary action has remained fairly constant.

The report also found that while the state’s Department of Transportation had repeatedly misused the state plane, wasting as much as $163,000, a former Commerce director was cleared of violating the state’s employee travel policy and said that he may have had to pay back nearly $30,000 he didn’t rightfully owe.

The Legislative Audit Division published its annual report, “Accountability, Compliance and Transparency in Montana State Government,” which was completed last month. The purpose of the report is to summarize the reports received and processed through the state’s hotline.