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County staff: audit flagged prepaid SBDC contract; interim business services arranged at Grand Center
Summary
Grand County staff told the advisory board auditors flagged prepaid SBDC contract funds as TRT economic diversification money that should have been spent by the sunset date; the county prepaid through 2026 and will not extend the contract without reopening financials. In the interim, staff arranged office space at the Grand Center for a local business-services advisor to meet clients.
County staff told the Economic Opportunity Advisory Board that state audit findings flagged a prepayment the county made for an SBDC regional representative as TRT economic diversification funds that were expected to be spent by the statutory sunset date.
“During the audit of the TRT revenues the state auditor basically flagged that and a couple of other things and said that that was economic diversification funds that were supposed to be spent down by the sunset date, which was June 30,” Melissa Jeffers (S8) said. Jeffers said the county wrote a check on June 30 to cover the prepayment through 2026 but that granting an additional extension would require restating the county’s financials and reopening the audit.
Jeffers also said the SBDC has reshuffled staff and asked for clarity about regional coverage; she described an interim arrangement to provide local businesses with in-person office hours. “Sarah doesn’t really have any office space. So the county has arranged for her to have office space so that she can have office hours,” Jeffers said, referring to the local GoEd-supported advisor serving small businesses.
Board members noted the risk that extending a prepaid contract could trigger additional audit work. Members encouraged staff to coordinate with GoEd and SBDC on a regional solution and to clarify how SBDC services will be delivered across Eastern Utah.
Jeffers asked the board for patience while state auditors and administrators finalize accounting guidance and said the county will await auditor direction before any formal contract extension is granted.
