Posted on 08/25/2026 5:53:17 PM PDT by LouAvul
For the fourth year in a row, multiple Oklahoma state agencies are found to have mismanaged tens of millions in federal funding, according to the state auditor.
“For expenditures dating to the fiscal year 2024, questioned costs totaled close to $25 million, State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd told media in her annual Oklahoma Federal Single Audit press conference Aug. 24, which presented findings from Fiscal Year 2024.
Like with Fiscal Year 2023, Byrd's office found the faults in Oklahoma Department of Management & Enterprise Services (OMES) and Department of Human Services (DHS).
Before the pandemic, the average amount mismanaged was an average of $5 million, Byrd said.
“One of the most shocking examples of waste we uncovered pertains to the childcare desert grant," Byrd said during her presentation. "The program was originally meant to expand access to childcare in counties that could not meet the demand. Altogether, almost 20 million tax dollars - close to one-third of all desert grant expenditures - went to childcare centers that have since permanently closed their doors."
The auditor warned the trend of reported mismanagement could also mean a big slash in future funding for programs like food stamps.
“The higher the payment error rate, the more a state will have to pay,” Byrd said. “If we cannot get our rate below 10%, then Oklahomans will have to pay more than $236 million in SNAP benefits."
According to Byrd, just since the pandemic, Oklahoma DHS and OMES have misappropriated more than $200 million combined. While she said the past mistakes were under different agency leadership, elections matter as well.
"This is the fourth year in a row I have stood here and sounded the alarm that Oklahoma needs to get its financial house in order or pay serious consequences," Byrd said. “Things get fixed at the ballot box. You’ve got to be involved in government. You’ve got to have your voice heard. You’ve got to demand accountability."
When presenting last year’s alarming numbers, Byrd said her office also didn't have enough resources for performing the audits as sufficiently in the future. When 2 News asked on Aug. 24, Byrd said her office still needs experienced accountants.
But we're near the top in others. OK has the 4th worst drivers in the nation and are near the top in obesity. So, there's always that. And we've sure got a lot of stoners. Mebbe we're not so bad.
Not to just defend, but “liars do figure”. Percentages are part of the story - what about magnitude?
Maybe Oklahoma doesn’t know how to cheat as well as New York? So, what?
The Okie‘s excuse is “too many zeros” to keep track of……
Did the rona do all that?
“Mismanagment”? Is that a code word for siphoning off money into some politicians pockets or some wealthy ranchers pockets or both?
We just voted on an additional bond and tax question to build a $19 million performing arts center and a nearly $6 million top of the line 8 lane track and field center. This for a town of 8800 or so and a school system that gets an overall grade of D as determined by the state auditors for education. Before getting a PA center and track and field facility maybe they could improve the performance in education? These kids are graduating so dumb they can’t carry water.
As for performing arts in this town, a barn or rodeo arena is about all that is needed.
Health resources? I see Tulsa Heart Center is promoting heart valve replacement via catheter. A friend had that procedure done two years ago in Springfield, Missouri. It isn’t the distance between Springfield and Tulsa that matters it is the time, Tulsa is at least 10 years behind.
NWA, not many miles away on 412 is about the same as Springfield insofar as being ahead of Tulsa. Maybe even further away in time.
How about that Kevin Stitt, selling our airplane for $1.5 million and now wants to replace it with a $5 million one? Isn’t he a prize?
In a time and performance study on road construction that was done for 35 states just a few years ago, Oklahoma ranked dead last, Arkansas was like #3
Try to convince anyone in OKC that money is not the problem though. See if you can get there first on any one of Oklahoma’s many upgraded roads to nowhere. A prime example is the work on US 59 going north from Stilwell and ending 3 miles south of Westville and tie-in with a beautiful road that goes on to Siloam Springs. In that department Alaska’s bridge to nowhere has nothing on us.
Health resources? I see Tulsa Heart Center is promoting heart valve replacement via catheter. A friend had that procedure done two years ago in Springfield, Missouri. It isn’t the distance between Springfield and Tulsa that matters it is the time, Tulsa is at least 10 years behind.
NWA, not many miles away on 412 is about the same as Springfield insofar as being ahead of Tulsa. Maybe even further away in time.
How about that Kevin Stitt, selling our airplane for $1.5 million and now wants to replace it with a $5 million one? Isn’t he a prize?
In a time and performance study on road construction that was done for 35 states just a few years ago, Oklahoma ranked dead last, Arkansas was like #3
Try to convince anyone in OKC that money is not the problem though. See if you can get there first on any one of Oklahoma’s many upgraded roads to nowhere. A prime example is the work on US 59 going north from Stilwell and ending 3 miles south of Westville and tie-in with a beautiful road that goes on to Siloam Springs. In that department Alaska’s bridge to nowhere has nothing on us.
Looks like they succeeded in “mismanagement” lol
I’m still waiting for them (OK good-ole-boy hierarchy/club) to rebuild all our MIA rest stops along our highways. I’ve driven from TN to Kali and OK is the only state that doesn’t have rest stops.
40 years ago they could not keep the prostitutes out of the bathrooms so they closed them.
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