Auditor Releases Report on ARPA Workforce Development Grant

Washington County Auditor Kristine Adams-Wannberg issued her audit on the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Workforce Development grant. The County received about $2.9 million in federal money to support the County’s local workforce recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The audit looked at whether costs and activities charged to the grant were allowable and the accountability provisions in the County's contracts with service providers.

Adams-Wannberg said, “The County prioritized getting services to the community during the pandemic. Like many other local governments, the County had challenges. It was not effectively prepared to administer the workforce recovery program. As a result, the County cannot say that all activities and costs the grant money supported were allowable and many program achievements could not be verified.”

The audit found the County had insufficient policies and no procedures to guide staff in grant and contract management. Inadequately developed contracts and internal controls resulted in little assurance that program and financial activities and costs were allowable. It also found some of the community partners were not prepared to take on federal compliance requirements.