INDIANAPOLIS (AP): The state auditing agency would hire about 100 more field examiners to review spending by local government and school districts under a plan being considered by Indiana lawmakers.
 
The proposal presented Tuesday to the House Ways and Means Committee would see the daily audit fees that the State Board of Accounts charges local governments increase from $45 to $175.
 
State Examiner Paul Joyce says budget cutbacks have forced the agency to perform audits less frequently than required by state law and that some local governments haven't been reviewed in five years. The planned hiring would increase the agency's number of auditors by nearly 50 percent.
 
Ways and Means Chairman Tim Brown says he believes the agency's request is reasonable and that the additional examiners are needed.