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Court to return ERAP administrative overpayment; will seek more detail on invoices and legal remedies
Summary
County staff told commissioners ERAP administrative costs exceeded the 15% allowable limit under federal rules; the court agreed to refund roughly $97,000 to the grantor and asked staff and county attorneys to provide more documentation and legal options about invoices paid to contractor Haggerty.
Nueces County officials told commissioners that the county must refund roughly $97,000 to the federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERAP) program because administrative spending on contractor Haggerty exceeded the 15% statutory threshold for the funds received and documented to date.
What commissioners heard - County staff said Treasury and program rules cap administrative expenses at 15% of the total paid to the grantee, and after adjustments and reductions the allowable administrative amount for Nueces County was lower than the county’s actual Haggerty payments. - The county had paid Haggerty invoices that exceeded the allowable threshold once Treasury adjusted the total payment calculation and reduced a tranche of allocation to the county.
Court reaction and next steps - Commissioners expressed concern and asked staff for greater transparency and documentation; several said they recall earlier contentious discussions over Haggerty’s invoices and requested a legal analysis of whether the county has remedies against the contractor. - The court voted to table further action and to require staff to return with detailed invoices, a timeline of payments and any contractual or legal options before the court authorizes the refund or final accounting.
Outcome - County staff will bring back a full reconciliation and involve the county attorney’s office to review contractual and legal options related to payments to Haggerty and the ERAP grant refund requirement.
