Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Thurston County Auditor's Vehicle Licensing Office received a clean bill of health from it most recent audit with no findings, errors or violations within its operations.
That marked the fourth straight year the licensing office has passed muster with the Washington State Department of Licensing, which recently wrapped up its annual review of the office.
The Thurston County Auditor's Office announced the results on Monday, Feb. 23.
“I’m incredibly proud of the care and attention to detail our team brings to work every day,” said Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall in a statement on Monday. “This achievement shows our commitment to serving the public with honesty and excellence.”
The audit looked at nine different areas of the business, from how money and inventory are handled to the way in which documents are stored and how staffers are trained. The county met or exceeded state requirements in each category.
“These high standards provide a vital layer of protection for every vehicle owner in Thurston County,” Hall said.
By maintaining a perfect audit, the licensing office ensures car titles are processed accurately, which prevents identity theft and protects buyers from "title washing" or purchasing stolen vehicles.
In recent years, the state has made these audits much more demanding, the licensing office said.
Inspectors now perform in-person inspections and digital reviews of the office's computer records. The idea is to ensure that public money is being handled correctly and that all facility security measures are followed.
Jaime Grantham, an administrator at the state DOL, praised the Thurston County team for their high standards.
“It is rare to find a team that is as professional and as close to perfect as it gets,” said Grantham in a statement. “Your commitment to excellence is an example for others to follow.”
The Thurston County Auditor’s office was one of the first in Washington to undergo a more intense level of scrutiny.
In addition to passing its own state reviews, the office is also responsible for auditing and inspecting the smaller licensing sub-offices throughout the county to ensure they also meet the same high standards.
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JulesJames
In these days of wayward government spending popping up everywhere, it is deeply reassuring to see a department pass an audit with flying colors. It shows clean work is achievable on the collections side. I'd love for a department to further restore my confidence by achieving similar on the pay-out side!
Tuesday, February 24 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Don’t believe or trust this for even a second. Having seen how audits are done at DOL, they’re only interested in giving the appearance of a good audit. They are actually looking the other way, sweeping things under the rug to give the illusion all is well in one of the most corrupt agencies in WA state government. DOL’s competency and credibility are nonexistent.
Wednesday, February 25 Report this