A recent audit of the Pierce County Housing Authority found that as of 2022 the agency remains behind in its financial responsibilities three years after its former finance director misappropriated over $6.9 million in public funds, according to an internal audit report the State Auditor’s Office released Thursday.
The accountability audit report found in 2021 and 2022 the housing authority had improved some of its operations, “However, as with the previous audit, this report shows the Housing Authority has yet to implement full internal controls to ensure proper oversight of its financial activities.”
The state Auditor’s Office found no financial irregularities with the PCHA, but auditors did find the agency is still developing controls to ensure financial transfers go to their intended accounts, which was an issue that allowed the scheme to misappropriate funds in 2019 to happen in the first place, Adam Wilson, the auditor’s office assistant director of communications, told The News Tribune.
The 2019 case was the biggest instance of fraud involving a local government in Washington state history, Wilson said.
The PCHA is governed by five-member Board of Commissioners and provides…
