Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Federal Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County staff warns proposed 2 CFR Part 200 rewrite could burden small counties; will draft comment letter
Summary
Staff told Strafford County commissioners that a proposed rewrite of 2 CFR Part 200 could let federal agencies stop grants mid-project, expand audit burdens, and place new certification requirements on subgrantees; staff said it will draft a comment letter to the county’s congressional delegation and to NACO.
County staff on July 9 urged the Strafford County Commissioners to back drafting a comment letter in response to a proposed rewrite of 2 CFR Part 200 (the federal Uniform Guidance). The staff member described concerns raised in a National Association of Counties webinar about broad new federal authorities, increased pre- and post-award audit requirements and added certification responsibilities for subgrantees and vendors.
The staff member said the rewrite appears to allow a federal agency to pause or terminate grants and would increase the county’s administrative and audit workload. “They can stop a grant anytime,” the staff member said, summarizing a central webinar concern. The official noted that many county grants operate on a reimbursement basis and that a midstream termination could leave local governments exposed.
Staff also said the proposed changes could discourage small vendors from bidding because subgrantees would face new federal certification requirements, and that the change could impose higher audit costs. The staff member said the county’s National Association of County officials had recommended soliciting support to either modify or oppose the proposal and requested permission to draft a letter to the county’s congressional delegation and to endorse a NACO request for a 90-day extension to the feedback period.
Why it matters: If adopted as proposed, the rewrite could alter how federal grant awards are administered and audited nationwide, with outsized effects on smaller counties that rely on pass-through arrangements and small vendors. The board gave staff permission to craft and circulate a draft to commissioners for review.
