4/26/17
by News Department on 04/26/17Unemployment Compensation audit...
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said today his performance audit of the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) Unemployment Compensation Service and Infrastructure Improvement Fund (SIIF) found major accounting and oversight problems that must be corrected immediately.
In January, DePasquale launched an audit of the SIIF, which was created by Act 34 of 2013 to temporarily supplement the decline in federal funding L&I uses to administer the UC program.
When legislation to extend SIIF funding for 2017 failed in December 2016, L&I cut $57.5 million from its budget, resulting in the closure of three of the eight UC service centers and the furlough of 488 employees.
Based on L&I’s projections, $159.5 million in additional funding is needed over the next four years to maintain operations, avoid additional service center closings and modernize its computer system.
L&I’s projections do not forecast reopening all three service centers closed in December 2016 or recalling furloughed staff.
