Local-food purchasing update leaves audit work unfinished

What happened

The Department reported spending $5.14 million of $66.91 million in school-food purchases on local products, or 7.69%. Staff said eight of 20 corrective actions following the food-program audit were complete, with the rest in progress.

Why it matters to families

The update concerns how the statewide meal program buys food. Reported progress does not establish that all audit concerns were resolved or that local-food purchasing goals were met.

The evidence

August 13 Finance and Infrastructure Committee minutes record the purchasing figures and staff’s eight-of-20 update. Those statements are a Department progress report, not an independent auditor’s closure of the findings.

The source