RPC staff warned commissioners that the county’s auditor’s office has not completed recent internal reports and that delays have moved many fiscal responsibilities toward a newly created county finance department.

“...we still do not have a July or August report,” Tammy, a finance staff member, told the commission, describing repeated delays in responses from the Munis help desk and in vendor and interest-income postings. Staff said the county is transitioning many auditor functions to a new finance department under the county executive; staff expected that change to restore regular financial services.

RPC’s outside auditor, CLA, participated in an initial internal meeting, but staff said a current trial balance had not yet been submitted and CLA indicated the audit for fiscal year 2024 would likely not be completed by year-end. Tammy said that will create a timing problem because the Office of Head Start has already asked for the most recently completed audit and the 2024 audit will not be available for an upcoming monitoring visit.

On space and capital plans, Tammy and other staff reported uncertainty about locating a planned ICERT (ISART/ICERT-like) project at the Brookens campus. Staff said the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity — which would contribute more than $6,000,000 to the project — has expressed hesitancy while county plans for the Brookens facility remain unsettled. County leaders reportedly have asked RPC to commit to retain its administrative offices at the site for a 10-year period if the funder is to be comfortable proceeding.

Tammy also alerted commissioners to a significant upcoming increase in health-insurance costs: a 29.8% rise in Blue Cross Blue Shield premiums. She said the county previously covered a contribution to the HRA (health reimbursement arrangement) but that cost will move to RPC next year; staff said they will bring a recommendation for employer–employee cost-sharing to the commission.

Commissioners and staff said they have been engaging county officials to accelerate auditor work and to clarify facility decisions related to Brookens to address funder concerns. Staff advised fiscal teams to submit federal draws early in case a federal government shutdown affects draws, and the commission discussed contingency planning.