A state board composed of Maryland's top elected officials failed to monitor $200,000 in grant money given to an unnamed recipient and did not produce legally required procurement reports to state lawmakers for at least seven straight years, according to a new audit.
The report by the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits shows that the state's Board of Public Works -- made up of Gov. Martin O'Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp -- doled out $5.1 million to an individual grantee during fiscal 2009. Yet the financial statement for the transaction reflected only $4.9 million in grant money, leaving $200,000 unaccounted for.
"BPW did not adequately monitor a grantee's financial activity to ensure state funds were accounted for and used in accordance with related grant agreements," the report states. It does not name the recipient of the $5.1 million in taxpayer money.
They should name the recipient. Not because the recipient necessarily did anything wrong. But the public wants to know if there's anything shady going on with this. What's the relationship of these officials to the recipient?
ReplyDeleteBoy, and the Free Money Free Money people knocked the city council for questioning the best use of grant funds.
Thank God somebody cares about it!