Georgia's Foster Care Software Costs Jumped 112% With No Oversight

A Georgia audit finds a $7.3 million software system was a factor in service authorization spending jumping 112% — and lawmakers still don't know who provided it. - The numbers: Georgia's Department of Family and Children's Services (DFACS) spent $7.3 million over three years on a case-management system called Argo. Service authorization costs — covering transportation, behavioral services, and other supports for foster children — rose from $63.3 million in fiscal year 2022 to $134.4 million in fiscal year 2025, a $71.1 million increase. - What happened: According to the audit, requested by the House Appropriations Committee, case managers were inputting service requests into Argo speculatively ("just in case"), driving costs up. DFACS has since stopped using the system, and service authorization spending has already dropped roughly $21 million in fiscal year 2026. - Unanswered questions: Lawmakers, including Rep. Beth Camp (chair of the House Judiciary Juvenile Committee), say they don't know which company provided the software, whether the contract went through required competitive bidding (Georgia law mandates review by the Georgia Technology Authority for tech projects over $1 million), or who was overseeing the spending as it grew. The Center Square has asked the department twice for answers. - What's next: DFACS is expected to appear before the House Judiciary Juvenile Committee in October, where lawmakers hope to get clarity on procurement and oversight. The Center Square's Kim Jarrett reports. Get the full story and more Georgia coverage at TheCenterSquare.com. #Georgia #DFACS #TaxpayerSpending #GovernmentAccountability #CenterSquare #TheStates