Treasure County withholds signature on public-health contract after budget and match items missing

Treasure County commissioners voted to withhold signing a public-health grant contract for an evidence-based exercise program after finding the draft budget lacked line items accounting for the county's in-kind contributions and building-use match.

The board's review flagged discrepancies between the expense side of the grant budget and the revenue/ match fields; commissioners said the county should not accept a contract that obligates the county to provide matching funds that are not accurately recorded. "I do not recommend we sign this contract," one commissioner said after reviewing the budget worksheet.

Why it matters: accepting a contract without a correct budget and in‑kind match can obligate county resources unexpectedly and may reduce the net reimbursement available for program delivery. The county must ensure federal/state grant reporting and in-kind accounting are accurate before accepting awards.

What happened: staff told commissioners the contract as drafted showed the county providing significant program support but did not list an in-kind value for the building or commodities. Commissioners voted to return the contract to the grantor and request an updated budget showing in-kind contributions and clarifying how fundraising and local reserves are being applied.

Next steps: staff will ask the grantor for a revised contract and budget, and the board will not sign until the materials accurately reflect the county's in-kind match and the grantor's intended reimbursements. The county also noted an administrative leave situation in the grantee's organization that prompted caution before finalizing the agreement.

No formal grant acceptance occurred at this meeting.