Board approves shared-governance agreement with local workforce board for WIOA participation

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a shared governance agreement with the county’s Local Workforce Development Board to clarify oversight, staff roles and responsibilities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

Bill Ring of the county attorney’s office summarized WIOA as “a federal public law and the primary federal workforce development legislation,” and explained the layered federal-to-state-to-local governance model. County staff and the local workforce development board said the agreement replaces an earlier, unclear footnote in the prior document and defines the county’s administrative and fiscal responsibilities as the local chief elected official.

The agreement clarifies several points: the board of supervisors appoints and may remove members of the LWDB, the county is the fiscal agent and employer of LWDB staff, and LWDB activities appear in the county’s comprehensive audit. Billy Francis, executive director of the local workforce development board, and Brandon Kavanaugh, outside counsel retained by the LWDB, joined the presentation and discussion.

Supervisor comments were uniformly supportive and praised the clarification of roles. Bill Ring and Brandon Kavanaugh told the board that the agreement is the first phase; the board should expect a second phase—revised LWDB bylaws—to follow. The board adopted Resolution No. 2025-28 approving the shared governance agreement, effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028, with automatic renewal unless amended or terminated.

Board members asked staff to return with proposed bylaws and to maintain clear lines of communication as the board fulfills its oversight role under WIOA.