Local governments

This is the third article of our seven-part K&P leadership series. Missed the previous article on inspiring a shared vision? Read it here.

The Center for Government Innovation, a service of the Office of the Washington State Auditor, has been working hard to provide local governments the tools they need.

Just released: Payroll Guide and Internal Controls Checklist

This new Payroll Guide includes a suite of short, one-to-two-page resources for different roles and topics. This guide has something for you, whether you are:

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF) program, administered by the U.S. Treasury, Assistance Listing Number 21.027. One eligible use of these program funds allows governments to replace lost revenue in order to avoid cuts in their services.

This is the second article of our seven-part K&P leadership series. Missed the introductory article? Read it here.

Updated: Sep 9, 2021

Hello, #WFOA21! We are happy to see you again this year, even virtually. Since we saw you last, SAO has worked diligently to create valuable tips, training and resources to help you stay rooted in #GoodGovernment. This year, we have sessions on keeping your internal controls strong in a remote work environment, navigating a federal single audit (especially if it is your first time), and working with SAO when you suspect a loss of public resources. We hope you'll attend our sessions to learn more.

The State Auditor's Office received 410 reports of suspected or known loss in 2020. While some of these reports were from citizens and whistleblowers, more than 80 percent of reports came from management at state agencies and local governments.

That's because state law (RCW 43.09.185) requires all state agencies and local governments to immediately notify SAO of any known or suspected loss of public resources or other illegal activity, including cyberattacks and other activities that potentially affect financial records or systems.

Originally Published: August 24, 2021

As you enter into new federally funded contracts this year, you need to know if your contractor has been banned from doing business with the federal government. Commonly referred to as suspension and debarment, these requirements are fairly easy to comply with, yet they are one of SAO's most common audit findings. We first ran this article in August 2021, and due to its importance, we're republishing it as a reminder.

Today the State Auditor's Office released an accountability audit of the City of Seattle, which included a review of the city's contract with Freedom Project and its subcontractor, King County Equity Now.

The audit determined the process the city used to award the contract was concerning. The audit resulted in a letter to city management, which outlined the issues auditors identified and their recommended improvements.

After hours of time and energy, you've submitted your annual report for fiscal year 2020. Congratulations! Now you may be asking, “Is there anything more I can do?” Our answer is, “Yes!”

Take a look at your data and answer these questions:

This article was originally published in the April 2021 edition of The Audit Connection newsletter.