What is state business?

This article caught my attention in today’s News & Observer, Auditor probes ethics agency, but not because of the main thrust of the story. The main line of the story was changed records, fired employee, possible bad management and political conflict. While all are interesting this is what caught my attention in the story:

"The Perdue aide, Will Polk, who is Perdue’s general counsel, said he sought no special treatment on Perdue’s behalf. Polk said he reviewed Perdue’s statements because she had not reported her interest in a development company on her 2003 and 2004 statements. The next day, he filed supplemental reports showing her interest in BBA Development Corp"

Why is a state employee, on state time, reviewing personal documents submitted by an elected official, and correcting them? Does this mean that all legislators get taxpayer funded assistance to fill out their disclosures?

I have not read the law in detail and this may be fine, but it sure does not seem to pass the common sense test. No one forced Perdue to run for Lt. Gov. (or any of the other Council of State members for that matter) and the resulting requirements, like campaign finance reports, would seem to be an individual requirement not an "official" function requiring taxpayer financed assistance.

Francis De Luca