March 24, 2004

EFF Summary of Key Audit Findings from 2003 Statewide Audit

• The Department of Fish and Wildlife spent $5.8 million on land purchases that were not approved by the governor and legislature. (3-13)

• The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) spent $1.3 million to provide services to illegal aliens in violation of federal Medicaid requirements. (3-02)

• DSHS is still making Medicaid payments to dead people. The Department does not have sufficient internal controls to ensure that Medicaid recipients have valid Social Security numbers. (3-04)

• DSHS does not perform adequate background checks on individuals who receive licenses to work in the Child Care and Early Learning facilities. (3-12)

• DSHS failed to properly monitor a contract with a service provider that may have resulted in $165,000 being used for personal expenses. (3-28)

• DSHS made inappropriate payments to a service provider resulting in overpayments of $84,724. (3-29)

• The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) failed to report $261,000 in lost equipment as required by law. (3-34)

• L&I could not account for $5.8 million in employer workers' compensation premiums that did not get deposited in state accounts. (3-38)

• The Department of Employment Security paid out $767,677 in unemployment benefits to ineligible recipients. (3-03)

• The Department of Transportation mismanaged nearly $30 million in reimbursements to the developer of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project. Costs were not adequately verified or reviewed to ensure they met contract terms. (3-22)

• The State Ferry System improperly reimbursed employees for travel expenses. (3-42)

• The Ferry System, for the sixteenth year in a row, does not have adequate control over ticket sales and fare collection. (3-41)

• The Department of Community Trade and Economic Development was cited for several violations, including lack of awareness about federal requirements related to programs it administers. (3-16, 3-24, 3-21, 3-31, 3-32, 3-56, 3-57)

• The Liquor Control Board does not have adequate control over the revenue it collects. (3-43)

• The State Parks and Recreation Commission failed to adequately monitor vendor contracts, leading to a loss of $140,310 in unpaid rent from one concessionaire. (3-27)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
EFF commentary on audit
State Auditor's Executive Summary
State Auditor's full report

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org