Overview

First Year Review

This review updates and adds new information on:

• selected states' and localities' uses of Recovery Act funds for specific programs,
• the approaches taken by selected states and localities to ensure accountability for Recovery Act funds, and
• states' activities to evaluate the impact of the Recovery Act funds they receive.

The review also provides updated information related to recipient reporting and discusses state and local budget stabilization, federal requirements and guidance, and oversight, transparency, and accountability issues related to the Recovery Act and its implementation.

National Overview

The national overview is a summary of GAO's findings and recommendations from reviews conducted between February 2009 and May 2010.

Selected State Spending

GAO's reviews of state spending focused on 16 states and the District of Columbia, which contain about 65 percent of the U.S. population and are estimated to receive about two-thirds of the intergovernmental federal assistance available through the Recovery Act. These reviews were conducted between February 2009 and May 2010.

Reported Jobs Data

The Recovery Act mandates that GAO comment on the estimates of jobs created or retained as reported by recipients of Recovery Act funding. GAO issued an initial report related to recipient reporting, including recommendations for recipient report improvements, on November 19, 2009. GAO provides updated information concerning recipient reporting in accordance with its mandate for quarterly reporting in the March 3, 2010 and May 26, 2010 reviews.