The Audit Connection Blog
Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy addresses issue of audit of child care subsidies
The Office of the Washington State Auditor is finalizing an audit of the program that provides federal and state funds to subsidize child care in Washington. The Office has received several inquiries from the media and the public this week regarding this issue, in response to allegations of potential fraud. ... CONTINUE READING
We asked Susanne Hancock why she’s worked here for more than 10 years—it came down to three things
SAO Assistant Audit Manager Susanne Hancock has worked here since 2015 auditing local governments to help ensure a cost-effective and collaborative process, and she absolutely loves it. During a recent event recognizing her years of service, she explained why: "People, passion and purpose.” ... CONTINUE READING
Annual report: See how our Office provided accountability and transparency of public funds in 2025
The State Auditor’s Office invites you to take an at-a-glance look at our work and activities during fiscal year 2025 in this interactive, digitally accessible PDF. We are proud of our efforts to work with local governments and state agencies to ensure accountability and transparency for public resources. ... CONTINUE READING
Washington courts want to expand bail alternatives but face difficulties in doing so, audit finds
Several courts in Washington are interested in expanding alternatives to bail, but they appear to use such pretrial services infrequently today and face barriers to doing more, a new performance audit found. SAO examined 14 municipal, district and superior courts to understand their use of pretrial services and what barriers exist to expanding them. Auditors also closely reviewed three courts currently using pretrial services in Spokane and Yakima. ... CONTINUE READING
Did you obligate your SLFRF funds by the deadline? We’ll be checking next year
Local governments must have obligated their SLFRF funds by December 31, 2024. Our auditors will verify your 2025 expenditures next year, so now is the time to review your documentation and ensure you met the federal obligation requirements. ... CONTINUE READING
Review of four charter schools finds they meet requirements for supporting at-risk students
A new performance audit of four public charter schools across Washington found they identified and served at-risk students appropriately, including working with English language learners and homeless students. There are areas in which the schools could improve, and the audit recommends they develop more detailed policies to provide greater assurance that school activities will be carried out as intended. ... CONTINUE READING
Fraud risks loom large for small governments in 2025
Misappropriation of public funds can be financially devastating to local governments, especially in smaller, rural areas where community members depend on taxpayer money to supply critical services and resources. This troubling trend has continued in 2025, as our Office has seen an increase in the number of fraud investigations focused on local governments in areas with smaller populations where employees have access to public funds without appropriate reviews. ... CONTINUE READING
Recognize change payment request scams quicker with our "Six signs of a scam" poster
To help governments recognize these scams early, we have designed a new poster: “Change Payment Requests: Six Signs of a Scam.” This poster describes six common characteristics often found in the scam requests. From creating a sense of urgency to asking you to “kindly” make a change, knowing these signs can help you spot a scam early. ... CONTINUE READING
What’s coming for SAO’s 2025 International Fraud Awareness Week
While our Office always promotes preventing, detecting and deterring fraud, we're ramping up our efforts next week in honor of International Fraud Awareness Week. It kicks off Nov. 16, and here’s a look ahead at what's to come. ... CONTINUE READING
New to government? Our resources for newly elected officials offer some great guidance
Elected officials and members of appointed boards have a lot of responsibility when it comes to understanding their government’s operations. There's a lot to know, and we've put together a list of some key resources to help. ... CONTINUE READING