Audit: Seattle fails to track millions of federal dollars

A new state audit blasts the City of Seattle for not keeping better track of the way it spends millions of dollars in federal grants.

State Auditor Brian Sonntag says the city lacks internal controls to make sure the money is being spent properly. The audit also concludes that city staff lacks training.

The state audit reviewed four federal grants for housing, economic development, and public health. It cites problems with a $1 million grant for a new Healthy Foods Here program, saying the city did not track equipment that was purchased for the program.

The audit notes that this has been an ongoing problem for the City of Seattle, which the report concedes is taking steps to improve the process. A new hire to manage financial controls is included in the 2013 budget.