Jane Brady is the chair of A Better Delaware, and Kathleen Rutherford is a former executive director of the organization.
Delaware taxpayers have waited long enough for greater accountability in state government. With the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General and the launch of its public complaint process, Delaware has an opportunity to move beyond identifying government waste, fraud and mismanagement — and begin correcting it.
But creating an oversight office is only the first step. Its success will depend on whether investigations produce meaningful reforms, agencies are held accountable, and taxpayer dollars are better protected.
The good news is that Delaware’s new inspector general does not have to look far to identify where to begin. Existing state audits have already documented significant weaknesses in financial oversight, internal controls and compliance across several major government programs.
The question is no longer whether problems exist. It is whether state government will take the necessary steps to fix them.
Start with unemployment insurance trust fund
Delaware’s unemployment insurance trust fund should be among the inspector general’s first priorities.
Recent audit findings identified persistent deficiencies, including missing documentation, incomplete reconciliations and unresolved financial reporting issues. Auditors again issued a disclaimer that they could not identify the amount in the fund and whether it was being administered in accordance with law, which raises serious questions about the state’s ability to demonstrate that these resources are being properly managed.
These are not simply administrative shortcomings. Weak financial controls create opportunities for fraud, improper payments and the misuse of public funds.
The inspector general should examine why these deficiencies remain unresolved, identify barriers to compliance and establish a plan of corrective action.
Strengthen Medicaid accountability
Delaware’s fiscal 2025 Single Audit identified 14 findings within the Department of Health and Social Services, including seven repeated from the previous year. These findings underscore the need for stronger financial oversight, compliance monitoring and program integrity across the department, including Medicaid.
Every dollar lost through improper payments or inadequate oversight is a dollar unavailable to support vulnerable Delawareans who depend on essential healthcare services.
The inspector general should prioritize an examination of recurring Medicaid-related findings, determine whether corrective measures have been implemented and recommend stronger safeguards against waste and abuse.
Protecting Medicaid funding and protecting the people it serves should go hand in hand.
Examine financial oversight in Delaware schools
Delaware taxpayers continue to invest substantial resources in public education. They deserve confidence that those dollars are being managed responsibly.
Yet performance audits for fiscal 2024 identified financial oversight deficiencies in 13 of Delaware’s 19 school districts.
Weaknesses involving purchasing procedures and payroll controls raise legitimate concern about whether existing safeguards are sufficient. While auditors did not uncover fraud, waste or abuse, the documented control deficiencies still warrant corrective action.
At a time when education spending remains a significant portion of the state budget, financial accountability cannot be treated as an afterthought.
The inspector general should review recurring district-level deficiencies, evaluate whether corrective actions have been completed and identify opportunities to strengthen financial management across the public education system.
More education spending must come with greater transparency and measurable accountability.
Turn audit findings into results
Delaware does not lack audit reports. What it needs is a stronger process for ensuring that documented problems are corrected.
Other states, including Florida, have adopted approaches to combat fraud, waste and abuse — ones that Delaware should consider, including coordinated investigations, complaint tracking and systematic follow-up on identified deficiencies.
A Better Delaware recommends that the inspector general establish several priorities:
A real opportunity for Delaware
The creation of an inspector general offers Delaware an important opportunity to restore public confidence in government oversight. A Better Delaware advocated for the position for six years. We are pleased that the position has been finally established.
But the office should ultimately be judged by results — not the number of complaints received, investigations opened or reports published.
Taxpayers deserve to know that identified weaknesses are corrected, public resources are protected, and agencies are held responsible for managing the funds entrusted to them.
Delaware finally has a watchdog. Now, it is time to give taxpayers the accountability they deserve.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
