TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The City of Tallahassee may have to pay over a million dollars back to the federal government, according to an email from Tallahassee Assistant City Manager Christian Doolin.
In the email obtained by WCTV on Friday, Doolin tells the mayor and commissioners that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is in the process of naming Tallahassee’s Lead Hazard Reduction grant “high-risk.”
According to that email, HUD raised concerns about contractor expense justification and unit eligibility, placing the grant under HUD audit.
“I have provided HUD requested documentation including contractor certifications, assessments, outreach coordinator, procurement and budget information, and income eligibility verification required to complete HUD’s review,” Doolin said.
WCTV confirmed the authenticity of Doolin’s email with two separate sources.
“The Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction (LHR) grant program is to maximize the number of children under the age of six protected from lead poisoning by assisting states, cities, counties/parishes, Native American Tribes or other units of local government in undertaking comprehensive programs to identify and control lead-based paint hazards in eligible privately-owned rental or owner-occupied housing populations,” HUD said on its website.
Approximately, $1.6 million has been spent on the program, including payments to a construction company. The City has been reimbursed around $1.03 million from HUD.
If the grant is labeled as “high-risk” by HUD, the city could be required to return some or all funds received for the program, according to the email.
“I anticipate receiving HUD’s high-risk letter shortly, which could result in HUD requiring the City to return a portion or all funds received for this program,” Doolin wrote.
Doolin wrote Friday that he has suspended the program. He did not provide a timeline for the program to resume. Doolin’s email was sent to the mayor and all city commissioners, alongside the city’s appointed officials like the city manager and its executive team.
A request for comment to a city spokesperson is pending. If or when we hear back, we’ll update this article.
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