Nevada’s Department of Transportation (NDOT) is finally under the microscope—and rightfully so. A recent Legislative Counsel Bureau audit exposed systemic issues: poor oversight of $25 million worth of materials, mishandled purchase records, and troubling misuse of state vehicles. When nearly $25 million in stockroom goods didn’t match the books and invoices were entered incorrectly—or not at all—it’s clear what happens when accountability falls by the wayside. It’s not fraud yet, but with weak controls in place, it puts taxpayers at risk and wastes hard-earned dollars.

The audit even flagged a mechanic’s shop that spent almost $20,000 upgrading a state pickup with tinted windows, engine chips, matte wheels, and a party-ready setup—before auctioning it off  . And let’s not forget a vehicle logged 83% personal use—about $5,000 annually. This isn’t black-market budget theft; it’s cushy government complacency.

In 2013–14, procurement card fraud drained over $250,000, and in 2014, “tiregate” cost taxpayers another $35,000. Yet no systemic overhaul followed. Now, with mechanics logging only two work hours a day on average and purchase splits circumventing limits, the message is loud and clear: with lax enforcement comes abuse.

NDOT has adopted the audit’s ten recommended reforms, promising a progress update by October  . But taxpayers deserve more than promises—they want action. When Nevada’s resources are wasted, it’s our hard-earned tax dollars slipping through bureaucratic cracks. If NDOT truly supports liberty and fiscal responsibility, now is the moment to fortify controls, enforce accountability, and demonstrate that public servants are stewards, not spendthrifts.

Source: Legislative Counsel Bureau audit; Review‑Journal coverage 

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