Press Release: ODCA Joins National Audit Task Force on Tracking COVID-19

News Release — Office of the DC Auditor

For immediate release

Contact: Diane Shinn

WASHINGTON, July 28, 2020–The Office of the D.C. Auditor (ODCA) today joined with the National State Auditors Association and fiscal watchdogs from 13 other states to announce a first-of-its-kind project to audit how each participating state so far has reported and monitored cases of COVID-19. 

“We’re delighted to join in this multi-state initiative to improve the understanding of the pandemic’s progression and to better guide public health actions in the future,” said D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson. “Participation in this project will allow us to analyze our own use of data on mitigating virus spread as well as gain an understanding from approaches taken by other states.” 

The task force, led by State Auditor Kathleen McGuinness of Delaware, brought together five states— Delaware, Pennsylvania, Florida, Mississippi, and Ohio—to develop a broad set of audit objectives to evaluate data collection, reporting, and monitoring of COVID-19. The audit framework was designed so that apples-to-apples comparisons among states can be made after all reviews of virus mitigation efforts are completed. 

ODCA will join other participating states by beginning work this fall, and each state will release results when its review is complete. Also participating are Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Tennessee, three states that asked not to be named, and Puerto Rico. 

To assist the Council of the District of Columbia in its oversight responsibilities during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ODCA earlier this spring compiled a summary of federal funding available to states and, in some cases, cities, in emergency federal legislation. 

The report provided a description of each of the major sources of funding for the District of Columbia government including the total amount available, the agency or funding source, the general purpose for the funding, and other characteristics including whether it is based on a formula or a reimbursement or a competitive application, and additional information that may be of use to policymakers, with a focus on funding that would be part of the District’s budget, and which legislators could have a role in allocating. 

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