Audit: City of Snohomish over-claimed $125K for roundabout costs

SNOHOMISH — The State Auditor’s Office is wagging its finger at the city for double dipping and not properly doling out its money last year.

The state issued a finding after discovering the city had over-claimed $125,923 to be reimbursed by the U.S. Department of Transportation for the 15th Street and Avenue D roundabout in 2014 during a recent federal and financial audit. The money had already been repaid through the State Transportation Improvement Board.

Snohomish’s engineering department did not properly review reimbursement requests and research grant requirements, auditors said. Failure to comply with those rules may put at risk the city’s eligibility for future federal dollars.

The city responded to the audit finding, noting that it does not agree with it because the federal and state reimbursements were less than the total grant amounts authorized for the project. Snohomish officials pointed out that the roundabout project was a multiyear undertaking so the audit would have been more reasonable if it looked at the whole project instead of expenses only in 2014.

City Manager Larry Bauman said the finding was confusing because rules about how much the city is allowed to request for reimbursements during a calendar year were not in the federal grant agreement. Those regulations are included in another federal document.

“This was a learning process,” Bauman said.

Snohomish also received a management letter from the state during its accountability audit for the way it distributed shared costs for employee salaries and equipment among different city accounts in 2014.

The city was dinged by auditors for the similar issues during the past two audits.

Snohomish failed to provide the necessary documentation to support the way it distributed costs among various accounts to pay for projects and services in 2013 and 2012. It also did not do a reconciliation at the end of those years to make sure the money allocated agreed with actual costs.

Last year, Snohomish hired Jennifer Olson as its new finance director to replace Danny Weinberg, who retired. Olson has been working to improve the way the city doles out its money since she started in June 2014.

The state noted that the city made “significant improvements” last year from past audits. However, auditors suggested ways the city could improve to comply with state law and proper accounting procedures.

The state asked the city to put in place a plan to more accurately reflect how actual costs benefit various departments that provide money for projects and services.

The auditors also suggested the city reconcile at least annually the amount of money charged to various accounts with actual costs to make sure the amounts reflect the full value of services received throughout the year.

Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Bodies of two men recovered after falling into Eagle Falls near Index

Two men fell into the falls and did not resurface Saturday, authorities said. After a recovery effort, two bodies were found.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.