- ‘Fundamental financial issues’: Report paints bleak picture of Jackson water finances (WLBT, 5/8/2023)
- A report by the Mississippi State Auditor reveals financial challenges in Jackson’s water and sewer department, stating it could cover operations for just 23 days with existing cash-on-hand and incoming revenues. The city’s uncollected water debt has reportedly grown from under $3.4 million in fiscal year 2003 to over $94 million in fiscal year 2021. The audit highlights concerns about the financial stability of Jackson’s water department and emphasizes the need to address uncollected water bills and financial inefficiencies.
- State Auditor’s office releases report about rural healthcare (WCBI, 8/15/2023)
- Mississippi State Auditor Shad White’s report suggests improvements for two healthcare scholarship programs aimed at placing professionals in rural areas. The Mississippi Rural Physicians and Dentists Scholarship Programs are functioning but require updated policies, including stricter rural definitions, better monitoring of practitioners’ rural service, and accurate calculation of repayment for non-compliance. While over 100 physicians and 17 dentists have been placed in rural Mississippi, the report highlights the increased need for such professionals compared to a decade ago.
- Report: $590 million misspent in Mississippi during pandemic (WJTV, 9/6/2023)
- A new report released by State Auditor Shad White revealed that over $590 million in unemployment compensation was improperly spent in Mississippi during the COVID-19 pandemic. The misuse of funds occurred in part because the Mississippi Department of Employment Security bypassed or altered its fraud-prevention systems.
- State Auditor Investigation Leads to $5 Million Recovery (Magee News, 9/18/2023)
- State Auditor Shad White has announced that private prison company Management & Training Corporation (MTC) is returning over $5.125 million to Mississippi after an investigation revealed they failed to provide the required prison staff but were still paid as if they had. The investigation began in 2021. This voluntary repayment by MTC is one of the largest recoveries in recent years, and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the State Auditor’s findings for potential legal action.
- State Auditor: Mississippi chronic absenteeism rising faster than neighboring states (WTVA, 7/8/2024)
- State Auditor Shad White has released a report indicating that chronic absenteeism in Mississippi schools has increased by over 76 percent by 2023, outpacing neighboring states such as Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas, which have seen smaller increases or even decreases. The report warns that this trend will have long-term costs for taxpayers and suggests potential solutions like adjusting driver’s license requirements for minors and expanding JROTC programs to address the issue.
- Decrepit Pipes Put Jackson, Mississippi, on the Edge of Catastrophe. State Regulators Didn’t Act. (ProPublica, 8/16/2024)
- A state inspection of Jackson, Mississippi’s water system highlighted severe deficiencies and a lack of effective oversight, contributing to the city’s ongoing water crisis. The report found that inadequate state supervision and mismanagement over the years allowed the water infrastructure to deteriorate significantly. This has led to widespread calls for increased accountability and intervention to resolve the crisis.
