Indianapolis-Auditor of State Connie Nass will deliver a speech to the City of Washington Rotary Club at noon on Wednesday, February 20, 2002 at the Daviess Community Hospital on Walnut Street. She will discuss Indiana state government's present financial condition, as well as the pattern of spending and history of revenues leading up to the General Fund surplus.

Auditor Nass also will distribute the latest edition of her official publication, "A Report to Indiana Citizens on the State's Finances," and discuss possible ways to alleviate the shortfall in the General Fund. The Report is available on the auditor's web site at www.state.in.us/auditor.

"A key factor in the loss of our $2 billion surplus has been State government spending, which has more than doubled over the past ten years," stated Auditor Nass. "For every man, woman, and child, state government spending has increased nearly 30% above the rate of inflation since 1991."

Connie Nass, a native of Huntingburg, Indiana, was elected Auditor of State in 1998. Her office is responsible for keeping the State's official financial records, paying the State's bills (including the wages of 40,000 state employees), and disbursing tax revenues to cities, towns, counties, and schools.