Fraser files legislation to require state audit of LCRA

February 08, 2013, 5:00 pm by James Walker

Sen. Troy Fraser’s dissatisfaction, and often frustration, with how the Lower Colorado River Authority conducts its business, has resulted in his filing legislation to have the utility submit to a state audit of its financial and operational practices.

Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) filed the legislation Friday which would compel the Texas State Auditor to audit the LCRA, which is charged with managing the water in the lower Colorado River basin, including the Highland Lakes.

"Since being elected to Senate District 24 in 1996, I have constantly battled with the LCRA on how they conduct business," said Fraser in a statement released by his office Friday."Asking the State Auditor to do a thorough review of LCRA's finances and operations would benefit all the customers in the basin.”

The review must be completed by January 1, 2015, according to the proposed legislation.
Currently, under the Water Code, the State Auditor may perform audits of financial transactions of any district and Fraser’s proposed legislation,  Senate Bill 448, clarifies that a special water authority also could be audited.  

It would require a district to reimburse the State Auditor's Office for the cost of performing the audit.
 "An independent review of the LCRA's performance is good for them and for the state," said Frasr, said Fraser, who is chairman of the Texas senate’s Natural Resources Committee. "We need to make sure the people we have managing the LCRA have all the information they need to make the best choices for both water and electric customers."

For more on this story, see Tuesday's Highlander or Wednesday's Burnet Bulletin or Llano County Journal.