Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency introduced in NC Senate

In the footsteps of The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Washington D.C., Senate Republicans in North Carolina have introduced the DAVE Act. 

On Monday, Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, filed Senate Bill 474, which creates a Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency (DAVE) within the State Auditor’s office. 

The bill requires each state agency to report to the DAVE on how the agency spends taxpayer funds and instructs Dave Boliek’s office to put together a report by the end of the year on which state agencies and jobs can be cut.

Berger said in a press release it’s time to take a look and make sure state government is working effectively and efficiently. 

“We want our state agencies to work as hard as the citizens that fund them,” Sen. Berger said. “Taking a comprehensive look at state agency spending and staffing to determine if they’re working effectively and efficiently is the right thing to do. If they won’t hold themselves accountable, then the General Assembly will.” 

Primary sponsor Sen. Steve Jarvis, R-Davidson, says it’s important for taxpayers to know that their money is being well spent. 

“We want North Carolinians to know that their tax dollars are being spent wisely, and this audit will shed much-needed light on agency operations,” said Sen. Jarvis. “It’s imperative that we take a critical look at what those tax dollars are being used for so we can root out any waste and get rid of any bureaucratic bloat.”

In the March Carolina Journal Poll, more than 51% of North Carolina voters were in favor of creating an agency like DOGE. 

During his State of the State address earlier this month Governor Josh Stein also stressed the importance of government being efficient and effective. 

“We have to be fiscally prudent, to be smart about how we invest our taxpayers’ dollars,” Stein said. “That’s why I’m directing my budget office to set up the Impact Center, to ensure that our government is run effectively and efficiently, because people should know that their taxpayer dollars are being well spent.”