Audit Raises Concerns About Education Funding Oversight

From the Associated Press

Image courtesy of NHPR

A federal fiscal audit has found that New Hampshire needs improvement in five areas, reported the Associated Press:

The U.S. Department of Education reviewed 19 areas in a fiscal review of how the state education department administers federal grants last fall. In a report issued to the state in August, auditors rated the state satisfactory on eight measures and said it is meeting requirements, but should make improvements in five other areas. The audit found six areas of significant concern requiring action by Oct. 18, including a failure to monitor grant recipients to ensure that performance goals are met and that money is being used for authorized purposes.

“This lack of fiscal oversight creates a significant risk that subrecipients could mismanage federal programs, resulting in potential unallowable expenditures or instances of waste, fraud or abuse,” the report states.

Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, who took office in February, said he has worked with the federal government to address the concerns.

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said some of the findings were disappointing and troubling.

Download the Fiscal Review Report here.

Source: Audit Raises Concerns About Education Funding Oversight | Associated Press