John Wiggers of the North Central Planning Commission recently informed the Attala County Board of Supervisors of several grant opportunities for which some of the county’s districts could be eligible.
“You might as well bring the tax dollars back to Attala County,” Wiggers told the board.
The catch?
State audits of the county must be up to date before they could potentially receive funding through these particular opportunities.
Attala County Chancery Clerk Taylor Casey said that county audits are behind by several years due to staffing issues at the state Audit Department, which typically performs the service at a cost to the county of about $90 per hour.
The last finalized Attala County audit on record is for 2016, leaving the county behind for 2017, 2018 and 2019.
According to Wiggers, applicants prior to September 30, 2020, must have 2017 and 2018 audits completed, and after that date, the 2019 audit must be complete, as well.
Wiggers said that once audits are up-to-date, four of the five county districts would be eligible for rural development grants, with Districts 2 and 4 eligible for 75% reimbursement, and Districts 3 and 5 eligible for 35% reimbursement on approved projects. Funds from these grants could be used for a variety of projects, including replacement of Sheriff’s Department vehicles.
Wiggers said the county could also be eligible for small municipal grants where the main goal is economic development. Appropriate projects under these grants, he said, would be installing sidewalks in a business area, providing water and sewer to a road where business development is planned, or work on airport roads.
With a deadline of September 15 for up to $150,000 in grant funds with a 20% county match, it is not an opportunity the county will be able to take advantage of this year.
Supervisors asked if they could make purchases or complete projects now and apply for reimbursement after audits are caught up, but Wiggers said that was not allowed.
In an effort to get back on schedule with county audits, Casey said the Audit Department provided a list of approved auditors counties can contract with rather than wait for the state auditors to catch up. Attala County has now contracted with Watkins, Ward & Stafford to complete the 2017 and 2018 audits for the county at a cost of $120 per hour, with cost of each annual audit capped at $33,600.
