Iowa Guv Used COVID Funds to Pay Staff, Then Covered It Up: Audit
Source: daily beast
Updated Nov. 16, 2021 8:10PM ET /
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds improperly used federal coronavirus relief funds to pay her staff for three months and covered it up by spending the money via the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, according to an audit released Monday. State auditor Rob Sand found that Reynolds used nearly $450,000 in federal aid to pay salaries despite her office being warned repeatedly by Sand that the arrangement was unlikely to get federal approval. When pressed for documentation to justify the spending, the Republican governor said the 21 staff members were employees working on the state’s COVID response—but she provided no proof to back it up.
Sand obtained a spreadsheet from DHS that listed the employees in a section titled “FY 2020 Shortfall” at a cost of $448,448.66. But, in a follow-up spreadsheet, the title had been changed to “Covid-19 Personnel Costs.” The change was “a pretty big deal,” Sand told the Associated Press. “What is not clear is why these salaries were not included in the governor’s budget set prior to the fiscal year and prior to the pandemic,” he wrote in his report. “Based on this information, we conclude that the budget shortfall was not a result of the pandemic.” Reynolds’ spokesperson claimed the U.S. Treasury Department gave them permission to use COVID aid to reimburse salaries.
Read it at NBC News
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/audit-reveals-gop-iowa-guv-kim-reynolds-used-almost-dollar450000-in-covid-emergency-relief-funds-to-pay-staff
Oh, I suspect she will get away with this.
Link to tweet
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Iowa governor improperly used $450,000 in Covid funds for salaries, audit finds
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/iowa-governor-improperly-used-450000-covid-funds-salaries-audit-finds-rcna5753
State Auditor Rob Sand said a review of the state’s payroll system shows the money was used to pay the office staff for Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds updates the state's response to the coronavirus outbreak during a news conference in Johnston, Iowa, on Sept. 29, 2020.Charlie Neibergall / AP file
Nov. 16, 2021, 1:15 PM CST / Source: Associated Press
By The Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa — A state audit report on government spending released Monday accused Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds of using nearly $450,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds to pay salaries for 21 staff members for three months last year and concealing the spending by passing it through the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
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Sand said his office looked further into the spending because the Office of Inspector General requested an inquiry. He said the federal agency has reviewed his office’s findings and agreed with them. It could be a problem that Reynolds’ office is trying to come up with documentation after telling the auditor’s office twice that they had no such documentation, Sand said.
“If you’re coming up with documentation after the fact after you’ve said twice you don’t have it, that should be concerning too,” he said.
Sand said the state may be required to repay the money to the federal government.
The audit isn’t the first time Reynolds has been found to have spent federal funds for nonapproved use.
In December 2020, Reynolds had to return $21 million in Covid-19 relief money after using it to upgrade an outdated state information technology system....................................
= new reply since forum marked as read
No R or D behind her name, call it a little whitewashing?
of us out here including you in this country that gave you this "federal tax money" from the federal coffers to help with COVID 19 items, not fucking salaries, that is entire different issue ...I want "our" money back this isn't some slush fund that your criminal liable governor can just willy nilly do as she pleases.....you right wingers always whine about corruption and government spending.....well if someone is robbing from the till and gets caught, twice now, you know that old saying........
And as for the News papers she is a republican....say she is your republican governor .....if it was democrat you would have that plastered all over the place....
