Jay Reeves

Relentless focus on cybersecurity to protect public information

The State Auditor can’t freeze payments, but can catch problems before they grow. Using tools like Power BI, which it currently uses, and expanded data analytics, the office can flag risky spending in local governments earlier and more consistently, then refer confirmed issues to the right authorities right away.

Outdated paperwork slows everyone down. By connecting city and county systems to a shared data framework, this plan cuts duplicative manual reporting, speeds up audits, and lets a clear risk-based approach focus attention where it matters most, freeing local officials to focus on services instead of forms.

Public trust depends on protecting public data. Working with Minnesota IT Services, the office will use continuous monitoring, intrusion detection, encrypted storage, and real-time alerts to catch threats early, backed by regular staff training and strict access controls to prevent breaches before they start.

Oversight with proactive audits, data analytics, and continuous monitoring to protect our tax dollars.

As your State Auditor, my first act will be introducing legislation requiring every new taxpayer funded program to be developed in collaboration with the independent auditing agency responsible for its oversight.

Transparency shouldn’t require a records request. This plan replaces static PDFs with interactive dashboards (built with Python, R, or Tableau) and geospatial maps through Esri, so residents, researchers, and journalists can track how tax dollars flow through counties, cities, school districts, and state programs, updated regularly.

Minnesota deserves a government that prevents fraud instead of reacting to it. FULL STOP!

Every priority we set is driven by one mission: to safeguard the tax dollars of Minnesotans.

Use expanded data analytics to flag risky local-government spending earlier and refer confirmed issues promptly to the appropriate authorities.

• Preserve early detection and referral as the mechanisms; do not claim the State Auditor can freeze payments.

Connect city and county systems to a shared data framework, reduce duplicative reporting, and use risk-based audits to focus oversight.

• Preserve the shared-data, reporting, and risk-based audit mechanisms.

Work with Minnesota IT Services to use continuous monitoring, intrusion detection, encrypted storage, real-time alerts, staff training, and strict access controls to protect public information.

• Preserve the enumerated cybersecurity controls without asserting they eliminate all breaches.

Would urge Minnesota lawmakers to require new taxpayer-funded programs to be developed in collaboration with the independent auditing agency responsible for oversight; the state auditor cannot introduce legislation directly.

Replace static spending reports with regularly updated interactive dashboards and geospatial maps showing how tax dollars flow through local governments, schools, and state programs.

• Preserve the public reporting tools and covered institutions; named software is illustrative rather than mandatory.