Wrap: It was a back-and-forth battle that started with a summer request from State Auditor Susan Montee to audit LAGERS, the state's pension program for local government employees.

It ended up in Cole County court.

LAGERS executive secretary Bill Schwartz wasn't surprised by Monday's ruling, saying Montee was overstepping her authority and that the audit would've been a waste of money.

Montee thinks differently.

She says the pension program's members deserve a more transparent system.

Montee says there has never been anything fishy in LAGERS' financial records before.

But that state auditor's office hasn't checked into LAGERS' finances since 2001.

Montee says she planned to look into whether the system was going out for competitive bids, and whether it was giving bonuses to employees.

Schwartz denies that's an issue.

Schwartz says the whole fight could've been solved with just one question.

Schwartz says the retirement system will continue to go about its business the same way.

But Montee is considering appealing the judge's ruling.

She also says lawmakers have expressed interest in changing state law to allow her to do more comprehensive audits than current law allows.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Wrap: State Auditor Susan Montee can't take a comprehensive look at LAGERS, the state's retirement system for local government workers.

LAGERS executive secretary Bill Schwartz says he wasn't surprised by the Cole County judge's ruling.

Schwartz says it would've been a waste of taxpayer money for Montee to look at the same things another accounting service already records.

Montee says that's wrong - her audit would've looked into other things that aren't on LAGERS' financial statement.

She says she hasn't decided whether to appeal the ruling.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Wrap: State Auditor Susan Montee is baffled why LAGERS, the state's pension program for local government workers, would sue her office over looking at LAGERS' financial records.

Montee says she hasn't decided whether to appeal a federal judge's ruling in the retirement system's favor.

A LAGERS official says there's nothing to hide - Montee was simply trying to do a more comprehensive audit than state law allows.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Wrap: A Cole County judge ruled that State Auditor Susan Montee can't take a comprehensive look at LAGERS, the pension program for local government workers.

Montee says lawmakers have approached her with plans to change state law so she can look at LAGERS' finances in the future.

Asked if that's the only way to get a look at the books, Montee wouldn't rule out the possibility of appealing the federal judge's ruling.

While Montee makes her decision, a LAGERS official says the system will continue with its own yearly audits without Montee's office.

From the State Capitol, I'm Theo Keith, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.