Audit: Mississippi taxpayer funds paid for millions in child care expenses amid high absentee rates

An audit by the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor found that nearly 20% of childcare centers accounted for 90% of reported paid absences in the state’s Child Care Payment Program (CCPP).

The report estimates that taxpayers paid between $13.8 million and $30.9 million during federal fiscal year 2024 for children who were reported absent from childcare centers, auditors said.

Auditors noted that five centers alone were responsible for more than 40% of paid days when children were absent but still received funding. The program’s funding model pays centers based on enrollment, not attendance, under federal rules enacted during the Biden administration.

According to the audit, more than 13% of sampled payments were made for days when children were absent. Federal regulations allow providers to receive payments for up to 60 consecutive days of absence before benefits may be revoked.

Auditor White criticized the system, saying, “The fact that these centers still receive tax dollars even if the kids are gone for up to two months is completely crazy and a total waste of your tax dollars.” The full report is available on the auditor’s website under the “Reports” tab by searching “Child Care.”

Source: Original Article