(Des Moines) Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand has released a report detailing findings from a special investigation into the financial transactions of Children and Families of Iowa (CFI) spanning from April 1, 2015, to May 31, 2022. The investigation, requested by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD), focused on concerns regarding the actions of former CFI WIOA Title I Program Director, Jodi Spargur-Tate.
The audit identified a total of $436,179.92 in improper and unsupported disbursements, including $426,837.11 in improper payments and $9,342.81 in unsupported transactions. Among the improper payments were:
- $324,586.23in reimbursements to Spargur-Tate.
- $77,729.60in payments for daycare services that were never provided.
- $10,013.90in payments to U.S. Cellular.
- $8,340.00in payments to Dickerson Rentals.
- $6,167.08in payments to MidAmerican Energy.
A portion of these funds, totaling $321,520.32, was classified as “questioned costs” under federal regulations. Due to inadequate documentation, auditors were unable to determine which of the three Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programs—Youth, Adult, or Dislocated Worker—these expenses were charged to.
Sand recommended that IWD strengthen its internal controls, including better oversight of subrecipients. He also urged CFI to implement stricter financial safeguards, such as segregation of duties and ensuring all disbursements are properly documented and approved.
The report has been forwarded to multiple authorities, including the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Polk County Attorney’s Office, and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. The full report is available on the Auditor of State’s website.
