SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Woodbury County’s attorney says it’s a conflict of interest for the county to give public money to an agency headed by the county board chairman. In a legal opinion released on Tuesday, county attorney P.J. Jennings said no more payments should be made to the Sanford Community Center. However, county finance director Dennis Butler says money paid over previous years need not be paid back to the county.

Sanford operates after-school and summer programs for at-risk youth and coordinates numerous outreach efforts. It is headed by Woodbury County Board Chairman George Boykin. Boykin says he will seek regulatory changes so the center can still receive money for its gang prevention program. He says that without the county’s funding, he’ll have to cut as many as five positions.