The Audit Connection Blog

A quick tour through more than $20 billion in federal funds

Every year, the Office of the Washington State Auditor conducts a single audit, which examines whether state agencies spent federal funds as expected and complied with federal grant requirements. This audit helps our Office advance its mission of promoting accountability and transparency in order to increase public trust in government. ... CONTINUE READING

Annual audit of Washington’s spending finds state continues to struggle to meet federal rules and resolve repeat issues

The State Auditor's Office's 2023 single audit issued a record 86 findings—half of which relate to unresolved issues from prior audits—and we are questioning close to $1.2 billion in costs. View our infographic for a summary of how state agencies spent federal money, and how Washington can improve its compliance with federal rules. ... CONTINUE READING

34 unresolved findings and $1.2 billion questioned: A summary of SAO’s audit of Washington’s federal spending in 2022

SAO conducts an annual single audit that examines whether state agencies spent federal dollars as expected. This year, we issued 70 findings—34 of which relate to unresolved issues from prior audits—and we are questioning close to $1.2 billion in costs. View our infographic for a summary of how state agencies spent federal money, and how Washington can improve its compliance with federal rules. ... CONTINUE READING

$37 billion and counting: Find out how Washington spent COVID-19 relief money and other federal funding in 2021

The 2021 Single Audit was the first to review an entire year of how the state spent COVID-19 emergency funding. We issued 61 findings across 21 federal programs, and we are questioning more than $1 billion in costs—meaning we were unable to verify those dollars were spent according to federal requirements. ... CONTINUE READING

Audit of federal dollars in Washington state reviews pandemic-related spike in spending

The Office of the Washington State Auditor’s annual audit of federal money spent in the state revealed 61 areas of concern across 21 federal programs. Because of a lack of documentation, auditors were unable to audit one entire program, calling into question at least $271 million in spending. ... CONTINUE READING

Summary infographic of the 2019 State of Washington Single Audit

The Single Audit examines whether Washington state agencies complied with federal grant requirements. This visual report provides a summary of Washington’s 2019 Single Audit. ... CONTINUE READING

Removing the mystery: How auditors select federal programs for audit

Governments that spend $750,000 or more in federal awards during their fiscal year must receive a Single Audit to determine their compliance with certain federal requirements. If your government has received a Single Audit—either annually or at some point in the past—you might have wondered how your auditor selected federal programs for audit. ... CONTINUE READING

Summary infographic of the 2020 State of Washington Single Audit

Every year, SAO audits state agencies for compliance with certain requirements that come with federal awards. This visual report provides a summary of our 2020 Single Audit, including a breakdown of where pandemic funding went, how spent agencies spent federal money, and how Washington can improve its compliance with federal rules. ... CONTINUE READING

Summary infographic of the 2018 State of Washington Single Audit report

The Single Audit examines whether Washington state agencies complied with federal grant requirements. This visual report provides a summary of Washington's 2018 Single Audit. ... CONTINUE READING