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Home: Malia Cohen’s recordEvidence, reporting and public records about California’s State Controller.
Questions about Malia Cohen and the Controller’s OfficeSourced answers about experience, homelessness audits and unclaimed property.
Who is Malia Cohen?Education, career, qualifications and public statements.
Homelessness funding and audit promisesThe promise, funding data, audit findings and office response.
Housing finance and campaign fundraisingHousing tax credits, contributions and fundraising connections.
California unclaimed propertyClaims, delays, revenue and attributed lawsuit allegations.
Controller’s Office Idaho telework caseState Auditor findings, warnings and agency response.
2026 California Controller electionCandidate experience and campaign promises.

Research libraryCalifornia financial reporting and oversight research.
Why are California’s financial reports so late?The Controller’s Office is responsible for preparing the state’s annual financial report. A July 2026 outside review identified failures in communication, accounting guidance and departmental submissions. The reporting delay has been on California’s high-risk list since 2020.
Can Californians follow their tax dollars through Open FI$Cal?California publishes spending data, but its public portal is not a complete, real-time account of every dollar. Official documentation describes delayed updates, partial coverage and a vendor report that excludes entire types of payments.
How did Highlands receive more than $180 million it was not eligible for?A June 2025 State Auditor report found serious funding and oversight failures at Highlands charter schools. Morgan’s education paper highlights the case. The government audit, the school’s response and Cohen’s subsequent school-audit work show what happened and which agencies had responsibility.
What is behind Morgan’s $425 billion spending-exposure claim?Morgan’s March 2026 white paper estimates $312–$425 billion in five-year fiscal exposure. It combines several kinds of risk and loss. The category ranges printed in the paper also produce a different total when added together.