Statute and Authority
In 1997, the Montgomery County Council passed Bill 38-96, amending the Montgomery County Code, Charter 2, Administration (Section 2-64A) establishing an Office of the Inspector General as in independent office in the Legislative Branch of county government. In 2020, the County Council passed Bill 11-19, amending the Montgomery County Code, Chapter 2, Administration, (Section 2-25A and 2-151) expanding the duties of the Inspector General. The office’s enabling statute is found in Montgomery County Code, §2-151.
The goals of the Inspector General are to:
- review the effectiveness and efficiency of programs and operations of County government and independent County agencies;
- prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse in government activities; and
- propose ways to increase the legal, fiscal, and ethical accountability of County government departments and County-funded agencies.
The Inspector General must attempt to identify actions which would enhance the productivity, effectiveness, or efficiency of programs and operations of County government and independent County agencies including conducting investigations, budgetary analyses, and financial, management, or performance audits and similar reviews.
The Inspector General must conduct a systematic risk-based rotating group by group review of the County’s internal accounting and contracting processes and controls used by each department and principal office in the Executive Branch; conduct audits of high-risk County contracts and agreements; and review or audit any County contract or agreement if the Inspector General determines that review or audit is in the public interest
The Inspector General has authority over County Government, the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County, Montgomery College, the Montgomery County Board of Education and Montgomery County Public Schools.