Pandemic Spending Workgroup to Hear from Depts. of Human Services, Ag

Departments of Human Services and Agriculture to discuss relief programs; Child care advocates to share issues receiving critical federal, state aid.

The Comptroller’s Workgroup on Pandemic Spending will hold its fifth meeting on Wednesday, December 8, at 1:30 pm to continue its review of state and federal COVID-related spending.

The Maryland State Child Care Association executive director and the owner of a Pasadena child care center will share the challenges they have faced receiving federal and state assistance. The pandemic forced hundreds of child care businesses to close, leaving parents unable to work or scrambling to find care. The speakers will overview the industry and outline the systemic issues that continue to impact child care facilities and the working families who rely on them.

Additionally, representatives from the departments of Human Services and Agriculture will outline their agencies’ response to the pandemic and provide information about the relief programs they administered.

According to a press release:

During the past six months, the Comptroller’s Workgroup on Pandemic Spending has heard from numerous state agencies and community organizations about the successes, failures and difficulties of pandemic-related programs. Funds for the workgroup were included in the FY 2022 budget after Comptroller Franchot called for an independent review of pandemic-related spending. The workgroup is examining how funds have been expended, whether they went to intended recipients and populations most in need; disparities in distribution; and possible predatory fraud and pandemic profiteering.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Comptroller’s Workgroup on Pandemic Spending is an agency-led panel charged with conducting a comprehensive review of state and federal COVID-related spending.

Wednesday’s meeting will be held at 1:30 pm in the Assembly Room at the Louis L. Goldstein Treasury Building.

The meeting will also be streamed on the Comptroller of Maryland’s YouTube channel.

Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.