Sat Nov 07 2009
Home |
Back
OUR VIEW: Weak documentation: Portage Jobs and Family Services use of fed money slammed by state audit
July 2, 2009
The state audit of Portage County that says $771,934 in the federal Workforce Investment Act program was distributed without proper documentation is a blow that may end up costing the county if a recovery action is initiated.
It is difficult to know for sure because the audit raises more questions than it provides answers. Some of the expenditures questioned may actually have been proper, but without solid documentation the possibility of error can be raised and charges can be leveled.
The implication is the county's Jobs and Family Service Office, which oversaw the money, may have played fast and loose with the public's dollars, but whether that is truly the case is not clear because the documentation of expenses, according to the audit, is incomplete.
The audit is also critical of the GAPP program's administration, saying 18 people may have improperly benefited, again concluding it does not know for sure because the documentation is lacking. In addition, the audit calls into question the votes by Portage County Commissioner Chris Smeiles while on the GAPP board that benefited his daughter directly. This has been referred to the Ohio Ethics Commission with the caveat that such a reference does not mean an ethics violation has occurred.
Unless more complete documentation can be achieved, Portage County and Jobs and Family Services could find itself in a difficult position.
Unlike a court of law, usually in assessing the use of government money, the party must prove innocence, the presumption otherwise being one of guilt. Recovery actions could be initiated, although the probability of that occurring was not made clear by the audit's findings.
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
Recordpub.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2009. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications