Douglas County spent $74 on overhead per $100 of aid and handed out $759,000 in gift cards
A 13-page letter from Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners in September 2026 reviewed the county's General Assistance program for low-income residents. From 2023 through 2025 the program gave about $9.4 million in aid and spent just under $7 million on administration, or $74 for every $100 in aid. The county bought nearly 26,000 Dollar General gift cards costing more than $759,000; in a sample of 100 cards, about half the spending went to items the program does not allow, such as cigarettes, alcohol, toys and candy, and the auditor projected $533,572 of the card spending was potentially at risk for abuse or waste. Director Melissa Sewick disputed the cost comparison and said the office will strengthen written policies. On September 24, 2026, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said it is investigating whether taxpayer money was misspent.
We've already begun that work, and we will use the Auditor's letter to guide us as we move forward,
Authorities are launching an investigation into the Douglas County General Assistance program.
The Department lacked any records to support what the clients purchased with the gift cards issued to them.
Director Melissa Sewick said aid-to-administration comparisons are not an effective efficiency measure and the office will use the letter to guide changes.
No outcome recorded yet.