Iowa auditor: Over $400K misspent in state-run program

[progressoid]

DES MOINES — State Auditor Rob Sand issued a report Thursday that says more than $400,000 in public money was improperly spent through a program run by Iowa Workforce Development.

At a news conference, Sand characterized the matter as a case of “embezzlement” that involves programs funded by the U.S. Department of Labor and administered by Iowa Workforce Development.

The federal money was routed from the state agency to the Central Iowa Workforce Development Board, and then to the “subrecipient” of the funds, Children and Families of Iowa, Sand said.

At Children and Families of Iowa, administrator Jodi Spargur-Tate headed a program tasked with distributing the funds to Iowans, Sand said. “This is a program that’s oriented around making sure that people have job-training opportunities and pathways to success and prosperity,” he said.

The auditor’s investigation identified $436,180 worth of improper and unsupported disbursements, including $324,586 in payments that were routed to Spargur-Tate herself, according to the report.

more....https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-auditor-over-400k-misspent-in-state-run-program/

Unsurprisingly, Kimmy's administration got pissy and tried to shift the blame onto Sand. They claimed that he said IWD "did nothing" to improve oversight. If you watch his press conference, he actually credits them for making improvements (albeit slowly) in a tough environment.