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Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector
| Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $114,713 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $4,730,315 |
| Term limits: | 8 years |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Oklahoma Constitution, Article VI, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector
Cindy Byrd | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Other Oklahoma Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
The Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector "is responsible for auditing the financial accounts of all government agencies within Oklahoma. The State Auditor and Inspector also performs performance audits and special investigative audits upon request by certain state officials and upon petition by citizens," according to the agency's website.[1]
Current officeholder
The current Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector is Cindy Byrd (R). Byrd assumed office in 2019.
Authority
The office of the Oklahoma State Auditor is established in Article VI, Section 1 of the Oklahoma Constitution.
Article VI, Section 1:
| A. The Executive authority of the state shall be vested in a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Insurance and other officers provided by law and this Constitution, each of whom shall keep his office and public records, books and papers at the seat of government, and shall perform such duties as may be designated in this Constitution or prescribed by law.
B. The Secretary of State shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate for a term of four (4) years to run concurrently with the term of the Governor.[2] |
Qualifications
The state auditor and inspector must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be at least 31 years old
- be a qualified elector of Oklahoma for the 10 preceding years
- have three years experience as an expert accountant
Article VI, Section 3 of the Oklahoma Constitution establishes the qualifications of the office:
| No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor and Inspector, Attorney General, State Treasurer or Superintendent of Public Instruction except a citizen of the United States of the age of not less than thirty-one (31) years and who shall have been ten (10) years next preceding his or her election, or appointment, a qualified elector of this state.[3] |
In addition, Article 6, Section 19 stipulates that the auditor must have at least three years experience as an expert accountant.[4]
Elections
The state auditor is elected in mid-term election years, such as 2018, 2022, 2026, and 2030.
On March 14, 2011, the Oklahoma State Senate approved a bill that would have given the governor the power to appoint seven of the 11 statewide elected officials, including the auditor. Under the bill, the Senate would have confirmed those appointments. The measure ultimately did not make the ballot because it was not approved by the state House.[5]
Term limits
No person may serve as the state auditor for more than eight years, excluding years served for less than a full term to fill a vacancy in the office.[6]
2022
- See also: Oklahoma Auditor election, 2022
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector
Incumbent Cindy Byrd won election outright against Steven McQuillen in the Republican primary for Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Cindy Byrd | 70.0 | 244,433 |
| Steven McQuillen | 30.0 | 104,538 | ||
| Total votes: 348,971 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Past elections
Vacancies
Under Article 6, Section 13 of the state constitution, in the event of a vacancy in the office the governor appoints a person to serve until a successor is either elected or appointed and qualified by law.[7]
Duties
The mission of the Oklahoma state auditor is to "independently serve the citizens of Oklahoma by promoting accountability and fiscal integrity in state and local government," according to the agency's website.[8] The specific duties of the auditor are outlined in the constitution:[9]
- examine the state and all county treasurer's books, accounts and cash on hand or in bank at least twice a year
- publish a report once each year with the results of those examinations
- prescribe a uniform system of bookkeeping for the use of all treasurers
Divisions
- Administration
- County Audits
- County Management Services
- Continuing Professional Education
- Information Services
- Media/Public Information
- Performance Audits
- Quality Assurance
- Special/Investigative Audits
- Specialized Audits
- State Agency Audits[10]
State budget
- See also: Oklahoma state budget and finances
The budget for the Auditor and Inspectors Office in Fiscal Year 2025 was $4,730,315.[11]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
See statutes: Title 74, Chapter 10 of the Oklahoma Statutes
Title 74, Chapter 10, Section 250.4 (§74‑250.4) of the Oklahoma Statutes set the state auditor's annual salary at $114,713 as of January 2021.[12] The amount of compensation is prescribed by law, pursuant to Article VI, Section 34 of the Oklahoma Constitution:
| Each of the officers in this article named shall, at stated times, during his continuance in office, receive for his services a compensation, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected; nor shall he receive to his use, any fees, cost, or perquisites of office or other compensation.[13] |
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2021
In 2021, the auditor received a salary of $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2020
In 2020, the auditor received a salary of $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2019
In 2019, the auditor received a salary of $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
2018
In 2018, the auditor received a salary of $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
2017
In 2017, the auditor received a salary of $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[20]
2016
In 2016, the auditor received a salary of $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[21]
2015
In 2015, the auditor received a salary $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[22]
2014
In 2014, the state auditor was paid an estimated $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[23]
2013
In 2013, the state auditor was paid an estimated $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[24]
2010
In 2010, the state auditor was paid an estimated $114,713, according to the Council of State Governments.[25]
Historical officeholders
Summary of past officeholders. Since 1907, Oklahoma has had 13 auditors. Of the 13, 3 were Republicans and 10 were Democrats.[26]
Click "show" for former officeholders.
| Number | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles A. Taylor | 1907 | 1912 | Democrat |
| 2 | Fred Parkinson | 1912 | 1923 | Democrat |
| 3 | George J. Mechling | 1923 | 1927 | Democrat |
| 4 | John Rogers | 1927 | 1946 | Democrat |
| 5 | Charles G. Morris | 1946 | 1954 | Democrat |
| 6 | Scott Burson | 1954 | 1959 | Democrat |
| 7 | John M. Rogers | 1959 | 1979 | Democrat |
| 8 | Tom Daxon | 1979 | 1983 | Republican |
| 9 | Clifton Scott | 1983 | 2003 | Democrat |
| 10 | Jeff McMahan | 2003 | 2008 | Democrat |
| 11 | Steve Burrage | 2008 | 2011 | Democrat |
| 12 | Gary Jones | 2011 | 2019 | Republican |
| 13 | Cindy Byrd | 2019 | Present | Republican |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Oklahoma State Auditor. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact information
Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector
State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 123
Oklahoma City, OK 73105[27]
Phone: 405-521-3495
Fax: 405-521-3426
E-mail: Click here for email addresses
See also
| Oklahoma | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector, "About the Agency," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 1 - Executive officers enumerated - Offices and records - Duties," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 3 - Eligibility to certain state offices," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Section Article 6 section 19 - Qualifications, powers and duties," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ KFOR, "Okla voters could decide to expand governor's power to appoint current elected officials," March 14, 2011
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution - Section Article 6 section 4 - Terms of office - Succession," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 13 - Officers' commissions - Vacancies," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector, "Mission," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Constitution - Section Article 6 section 19 - Qualifications, powers and duties," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector, "Mission, Divisions," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma House of Representatives, "Appropriations and Budget Subcommittees," accessed January 22, 2025
- ↑ Oklahoma State Courts Network, "Oklahoma Statutes, §74-250.4," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Court Networks, "Oklahoma Constitution, Section Article 6 section 34 - Compensation of officers," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ ISSUU, "The Book of the States | 2020 | Volume 52," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 4, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," January 28, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed May 14, 2011
- ↑ Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector, "History," accessed January 19, 2021
- ↑ Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector, "About the Agency," accessed January 19, 2021
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