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Vernon County committee forwards workforce consortium agreement despite $386,600 repayment exposure
Summary
After a Western Wisconsin Workforce Development presentation, the General Government Committee voted 3–2 to forward a revised Chief Elected Officials Consortium Agreement to the full County Board; the committee heard state denials may require consortium counties to repay $33,821.84 (2022) and $352,778.16 (2023).
The Vernon County General Government Committee voted Feb. 4 to forward a revised Chief Elected Officials Consortium Agreement to the full County Board after a presentation on compliance problems with the Western Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (WDA #9).
Sarah from the Western Counties Association told the committee that the state identified administrative compliance gaps beginning in 2022 and had denied cost reimbursements, leaving consortium counties potentially liable for $33,821.84 in 2022 and $352,778.16 in 2023, a total of $386,600.00. She said counties are required by federal law to belong to a workforce development consortium and that dissolving WDA #9 could take up to two years.
The risk of repayment and the path forward were central to discussion. Supervisor Lawler moved to approve the resolution and forward it to the County Board; Supervisor Taylor seconded. Supervisor Henry said he did not agree with the resolution, and Supervisor Goede said "no one knew there was a problem until it was too late." On a voice vote the ayes were three and the nays two, and the motion carried.
Committee members discussed limited options: stay in the consortium and address the agreement's terms, or pursue dissolution and reassignments that could take significant time. The WCA presenter said prior state letters describing noncompliance had not been forwarded to the counties, a factor members cited in questioning how the problem developed.
The County Board will receive the resolution with the committee's recommendation. The committee did not adopt changes requiring future non-compliance letters be forwarded to counties in the version it voted to forward; members noted that omission in discussion.
Next steps: the resolution will go to the full Vernon County Board for consideration on the regular agenda; committee members said they expect follow-up and further information from the WCA and county staff if the board takes up the agreement.
