In a recent audit report by Washington County Auditor Kristine Adams-Wannberg, findings point to issues with the management of a $2.9 million federal grant aimed at aiding local workforce recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The audit, intended to verify the legality and effectiveness of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Workforce Development grant expenditures, revealed gaps in the County's administrative preparedness and controls.
According to Washington County, the County struggled to ensure all activities and costs funded by the grant were allowable, and likewise, it proved challenging to verify many of the program's reported successes, despite the community's urgent need for these services during the health crisis. However, the audit did not solely focus on past shortcomings but indicated the main deficiencies lay in the County's lack of robust policies and procedures needed for managing such grants and contracts.
The report additionally highlighted issues with community partners who engaged with the grant's provisions. These partners, as indicated by the audit, found themselves ill-equipped to meet federal compliance requirements which undoubtedly complicated the grant's implementation and oversight. Adams-Wannberg's findings suggest that the County's community partners, as well as its internal workflow, were not aligned with the necessary standards to ensure federal funds were directed appropriately.
