Del. Auditor McGuiness Proposes Rescue Plan Spending Tracker

Local and county governments in Delaware as well as school districts will get guidance about how they can be transparent with their spending of American Rescue Plan funds.

Delaware entities are receiving shares of $1.25-billion. State Auditor Kathy McGuiness said Wednesday that she is looking to help them track how these tax dollars will be spent.

McGuiness appeared with several local mayors in Dewey Beach. She said she plans to make an ARP Fund Tracker available on her website, auditor.delaware.gov.

“For most Delawareans, the third stimulus payment they received this spring is likely either spent on bills or put into savings already,” McGuiness said. “But for county and local government officials, as well as school district officials, the $1.25 billion in ARP funds they will receive have yet to appear in their bank accounts. And one thing I have heard repeatedly from Delawareans is that they want to know exactly how that money is going to be spent. This is an unprecedented amount of federal money for these officials to receive and, as Delaware’s fiscal watchdog, I want to help track where these tax dollars are being spent.”

“As mayor, I really appreciate all the efforts of the Delaware State Auditor’s Office,” Dewey Beach Mayor Dale Cooke added. “Since transparency with expenditures of funds is of major importance in a small municipality with minimal staffing, any process that makes it easier to document and keep our property owners and residents informed is certainly a welcomed addition.”

“Project: Gray Fox will provide an efficient, secure method to ensure that the expenditure of the American Rescue funds is transparent and consistent throughout the state,” Lewes Mayor Ted Becker said. “Transparency in the expenditure of these public funds is critical because all Delawareans should be confident these funds are being used to benefit their respective communities. The city of Lewes looks forward to participating in this program.”