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Committee recommends $53,788 supplemental appropriation to cover outstanding cultural‑plan payment to METRIS
Summary
The joint committee unanimously recommended Supplemental Appropriation No. 26‑59 — $53,788 from general fund reserves to pay METRIS for completed cultural‑plan work — and heard that auditors have required the county to return roughly $527,000 in deferred Public Arts Trust revenue while staff reviews additional expenditures.
The joint Education, Culture and Government Operations Committee on March 19 voted unanimously to recommend a supplemental appropriation of $53,788 to the FY26 operating budget for the Arts and Humanities Council. The appropriation is intended to cover an outstanding payment to METRIS, the consultant contracted to produce the county cultural plan.
Co‑chair Stewart described the request as narrow in scope. Ms. Cummings, presenting the appropriation packet, said staff believe the $53,788 figure reflects amounts already completed by METRIS and noted that additional costs related to the cultural plan may exist but require further accounting review.
Director Albornoz told the committee the department and the Arts and Humanities Council are working with the auditor to clarify how funds were used. He said invoices were paid from deferred revenue in the Public Arts Trust when they should not have been and that "the entire amount of the 527,000 and change that was the remaining cash balance in the deferred revenue has been wired back to the county per the recommendation of the auditor." The department is contracting an independent firm (referred to in the hearing as SCNH) to assist with document review and expects a possible second supplemental request after the audit work is complete.
Why it matters: The appropriation fulfills a commitment to a contractor and aims to resolve payment obligations while the county and Arts and Humanities Council implement audit recommendations and improve contract monitoring. Committee members emphasized the importance of making good on contractual commitments to METRIS and protecting the cultural plan.
Committee action and next steps: The joint committee recommended the $53,788 appropriation to the full council by unanimous vote. County staff said the department will continue audits and accounting reviews; additional appropriations could follow depending on those findings.
