DOVER, Del. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness announced today the release of two annual financial audits reviewing Delaware’s two major funding sources for improving and maintaining water quality. These audits were conducted in accordance with 29 Del. C. §2906.

“Our first release is our regular financial audit of the State of Delaware Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund,” said McGuiness. “Put simply, this fund provides infrastructure improvement loans and grants to eligible water systems.”

The Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund provides financial assistance to public water systems in our state, and these funds assist with the planning, design, and construction of drinking water facilities as well as land acquisition for source water protection purposes.

“Our second release is concerning the State of Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund,” said McGuiness.

The Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund provides low-interest loans and grants to municipalities, private organizations and private individuals for projects that will improve water quality.

McGuiness continues, “These two funds are incredibly important for improving and maintaining the quality of Delaware’s water infrastructure, as events like those in Flint, Michigan serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences for failing to maintain these critical resources here at home.”

The new special reports, “State of Delaware Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund for Fiscal Year 2021” and “State of Delaware Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund for Fiscal Year 2021” can be found here.

Learn about the Delaware Auditor’s Office at https://auditor.delaware.gov.

DOVER, Del. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness announced today the release of an examination of the Appoquinimink School District’s compliance with authorized positions as established in Delaware Code, Delaware Law, and the Budget and Accounting Policy Manual (BAM).

“Today’s release is the first of 19 reports that will come out over the following weeks,” said McGuiness. “My office examined the number of authorized positions versus the number of actual positions a district has employed as part of our regular annual audit review for all public school districts.”

In accordance with 14 Del. C. §1504, the Auditor’s Office is directed to examine all public school districts for compliance with authorized positions requirements for all public school districts that commence on or after July 1, 1991. The Authorized Position reports reviewed each of the state’s 19 public school districts and examined staffing data for Fiscal Year 2019.

“Many people may not know that public school district personnel costs make up nearly a quarter of the state’s budget,” McGuiness said. “That’s why this annual review is so important; exceeding the number of authorized positions could have a big impact on the state’s resources.”

“I am proud to announce that each of the state’s 19 public school districts complied in all material respects with established criteria for Authorized Positions,” said Auditor McGuiness. We found school districts are doing a great job with the resources they have available, and the few immaterial issues we identified were ultimately due to systems issues that are outside of school district’s control.”

The new special report, “Appoquinimink School District Authorized Positions Examination for 2018 thru 2019” can be found here.

Learn about the Delaware Auditor’s Office at https://auditor.delaware.gov.

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Contact: Alaina Sewell, Chief of Staff 302-857-3931 Alaina.Sewell@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness announced today the release of a special report titled “National COVID-19 Data Quality Audit Template: Compare and Contrast.” This report reviewed auditor’s reports using the COVID-19 Data Quality Audit Template and identified common issue areas that can improve state response efforts during future variants or public health crises.

“The COVID-19 Data Quality Template was developed as part of a bipartisan multistate effort to develop a consistent tool for states to assess their approach to data collection, reporting, and monitoring of coronavirus cases.” McGuiness said. “Many reports found issues affecting mortality data and identifying cause of death. Differences in methodology across the country contributed to decreased public trust in data quality. Increasing communication between states and government entities and sharing best practices is key to restoring public trust and combating this health crisis.”

Under Delaware Code 2909, the State Auditor may produce special reports that examine state agencies’ performance and offer recommendations for greater accuracy and efficiency, as well as data, information, and recommendations the State Auditor deems advisable and necessary.

“4 out of 5 reports noted major challenges due to information systems that were unprepared for the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some lacked clear guidance on what data should be collected, and others had antiquated systems that reduced the efficiency and accuracy of public health data collection efforts.” McGuiness said.

Upon release of the audit template, Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber stated, “Americans need access to relevant, accurate data that they can trust and understand as they make decisions that impact their families. By adding consistency to the data gathering process and implementing best practices from across the nation, we can help provide clarity and confidence in the COVID-19 statistics that are being shared. Americans must be able to trust the data, so they can trust the resulting policies.”

“I am thankful for the cooperation from Ohio, Louisiana, Iowa, and Washington D.C. and their ongoing work to provide insight for improving public health emergency response efforts. I would also like to thank the many auditor’s offices that are still actively working on reports using the data quality audit template. Working together, we can ensure transparency and efficiency in our response to this global health crisis,” McGuiness said.

The new special report, “COVID-19 Data Quality Audit Template: Compare and Contrast” can be found here.

Learn about the Delaware Auditor’s Office at https://auditor.delaware.gov.

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Contact:       
Alaina Sewell, Chief of Staff
302-857-3931
Alaina.Sewell@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness announced today the release of a special report titled “Delaware Erases Rape Kit Backlog.” This report reviewed the State of Delaware’s use of federal grant funds provided by the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) for implementing best practices to clear the backlog of untested rape kits.

“Every year there are 463,634 victims (age 12 or older) of rape and sexual assault in the United States,” McGuiness said. “Unlike other proactive states in the region, Delaware has yet to address legislation mandating testing for all rape kits to eliminate the backlog from recurring and ensure justice is provided for survivors.”

Under Delaware Code 2909, the State Auditor may produce special reports that examine state agencies’ performance and offer recommendations for greater accuracy and efficiency, as well as data, information, and recommendations the State Auditor deems advisable and necessary.

“Sexual assault affects millions of individuals globally regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Acting now demonstrates that survivors matter and that those who break the law will be held accountable. It is key that policymakers develop a solution to prevent unnecessary delays and backlogs from forming,” McGuiness said.

“The Criminal Justice Council continues working with our partners to enhance the current testing policy to ensure the elimination of future backlogs of sexual assault kits,” Said Michael Kelly, Delaware SAKI Coordinator.

“I am thankful for the cooperation from the Delaware Criminal Justice Council and their ongoing work to address untested sexual assault kits in our state. Together, we can shine a spotlight on this issue and inspire a meaningful change that supports Delaware’s survivors and prevents future backlogs from accumulating,” McGuiness said.

The special report: Delaware Erases Rape Kit Backlog can be found on the Auditor’s Office’s website here.

Learn about the Delaware Auditor’s Office at https://auditor.delaware.gov.

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Contact:       

Alaina Sewell, Chief of Staff

302-857-3931

Alaina.Sewell@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. – State Auditor Kathleen McGuiness said today that her office recently achieved the No. 1 ranking for agencies that have uploaded reports to a website that seeks to improve transparency and accountability for federal, state and local agencies nationwide.

“Oversight.gov was developed by the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency,” McGuiness explained. “The goal of the site is to improve public access to information and reports from federal, state and local agencies, including reports from all federal inspectors general.”

The Delaware State Auditor’s Office uploaded 144 reports to Oversight.gov to-date. With millions of views per year, the website has become a popular place for people to access a variety of government-produced reports.

In 2020, McGuiness’ office was the first agency that participated in Oversight.gov’s pilot initiative for state and local governments.

“The Delaware State Auditor’s Office achieved the number-one agency ranking in just two months,” said spokesperson Shiji Thomas of the National Science Foundation Office of the Inspectors General. “Kathy McGuiness and her team have set an example for other agencies to follow ever since the inception of Oversight.gov.”

“My team and I are honored to be recognized by Oversight.gov for our hard-work and consistency,” McGuiness stated. “We strongly value transparency and accountability in our office, and Oversight.gov allows us the opportunity to uphold these vales by sharing all of our reports for the public to read.”

To see the rankings on Oversight.gov, go to https://www.oversight.gov/state-local/reports.

About the Delaware State Auditor

The Delaware State Auditor serves Delawareans by providing independent objective oversight of the state government’s use of taxpayer dollars with the goal of deterring fraud, waste and abuse through unbiased assessments, including the use of various audits, special reports, and investigations of financial operations designed to ensure statutory compliance while enhancing governmental economy, efficiency and effectiveness. For more information, visit the website, and connect with the office on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram. 

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Contact:

Alaina Sewell, Chief of Staff

302-857-3931

Alaina.Sewell@delaware.gov