OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The State of Oklahoma is coming beneath fireplace after a federal audit criticized the way in which the Stitt Administration spent pandemic relief funds.
The federal audit into Oklahoma’s use of COVID funds for schooling decided that it didn’t observe correct pointers and circumstances.
The report centered on the primary of two GEER grant funds. The funds have been spent between March 2020 and August of 2021.
Auditors took an in depth take a look at $31 million of the $40 million the state acquired.
The audit discovered that “Oklahoma didn’t award all of its GEER grant funds in accordance with the CARES Act, Federal laws, Department steering, and GEER grant circumstances as mentioned within the findings beneath and the particular sections on this report.“
The audit additionally criticized Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters for permitting the cash to go to households who spent the funds on issues like televisions, energy washers, and air conditioners.
Now, federal auditors are asking the state to pay again some of that cash.
Officials say the state ought to return $652,720 in questionable Bridge the Gap expenditures.
The report additionally requires corrective actions that may pressure the state to look into what went improper.
“Oklahoma did not state whether it agreed or disagreed with the findings and recommendations in the draft report. However, Oklahoma identified corrective actions that it has taken or plans to take,” the report states.
KFOR reached out to Gov. Stitt’s workplace and Secretary Ryan Walters, however haven’t heard again.
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