OKLAHOMA CITY — For the fourth year in a row, multiple Oklahoma state agencies are found to have mismanaged tens of millions in federal funding, according to the state auditor.
“For expenditures dating to the fiscal year 2024, questioned costs totaled close to $25 million, State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd told media in her annual Oklahoma Federal Single Audit press conference Aug. 24, which presented findings from Fiscal Year 2024.
Like with Fiscal Year 2023, Byrd’s office found the faults in Oklahoma Department of Management & Enterprise Services (OMES) and Department of Human Services (DHS).
Before the pandemic, the average amount mismanaged was an average of $5 million, Byrd said.
2 News Oklahoma
“One of the most shocking examples of waste we uncovered pertains to the childcare desert grant,” Byrd said during her presentation. “The program was originally meant to expand access to childcare in counties that could not meet the demand. Altogether, almost 20 million tax dollars – close to one-third of all desert grant expenditures – went to childcare centers that have since permanently closed their doors.”
The auditor warned the trend of reported mismanagement could also mean a big slash in future funding for programs like food stamps.
“The higher the payment error rate, the more a state will have to pay,” Byrd said. “If we cannot get our rate below 10%, then Oklahomans will have to pay more than $236 million in SNAP benefits.”
WATCH IN FULL: State Auditor Cindy Byrd FY2024 federal single audit presentation
Full: State Auditor Cindy Byrd FY2024 federal single audit presentation
According to Byrd, just since the pandemic, Oklahoma DHS and OMES have misappropriated more than $200 million combined. While she said the past mistakes were under different agency leadership, elections matter as well.
“This is the fourth year in a row I have stood here and sounded the alarm that Oklahoma needs to get its financial house in order or pay serious consequences,” Byrd said. “Things get fixed at the ballot box. You’ve got to be involved in government. You’ve got to have your voice heard. You’ve got to demand accountability.”
When presenting last year’s alarming numbers, Byrd said her office also didn’t have enough resources for performing the audits as sufficiently in the future. When 2 News asked on Aug. 24, Byrd said her office still needs experienced accountants.
View the full audit report HERE.
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