Which is why a full audit is called for!
We teased subscribers with a headline “Are taxpayers being ripped off?” Put a password on it so as to run the draft by some of the principals. Lots of response. We don’t have the forensic tools to determine who is right, which is why we need a full-scale program audit. Because we don’t know.
Former Madison alder Nino Amato is making serious charges against a social-services provider with which Dane County contracted for $21.8 million in housing assistance. Urban Triage pays its CEO, Brandi Grayson, $292,000 annually. Nino Amato is a former UW Regent and former president of the tech schools board; came a few votes short of being returned to the Common Council last April.
Nino wants the State of Wisconsin to audit Urban Triage since Dane County will not. The County Board’s lone conservative, Jeff Weigand, attempted to audit the agency last May but only 5 of the 37 supervisors backed him up. We’re aware that the feds require a financial audit, which determines if the numbers add up. (Here is the latest.) But a program audit determines whether the entity is doing what it is supposed to and whether it is getting bang for the buck. (The Head Groundskeeper initiated program audits at the county level back in the day; modeled after the excellent work of the Legislative Audit Bureau.)
Having a heat wave, a continental heat wave
Hunkering down for temperatures in the mid-90s here in Madison WI, and high humidity. (Dew point 75℉.) Hoping the whole-house AC is in a good mood. We keep our lawn mowed high, being informed that Kentucky bluegrass, the fescues, and perennial ryegrass prefer cool feet. The heat and a half inch of rain over the last three days (as measured at Morey Field) should make the field corn grow while you watch.
← Official rain gauge at Blaska Experimental Work Farm
Dane County’s GOP senator
Blaska put Nino Amato in touch with Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green. The senator is taking this seriously. The two have a meeting set for July, after (presumably) the state budget is settled. Sen. Marklein co-chairs the powerful Joint Finance Committee and (more usefully) is a member of the Joint Audit Committee. A CPA by profession, his practice was focused on forensic accounting and white collar crime investigations. He is a credentialed Certified Fraud Examiner.
Democrats did us a favor when it gerrymandered — in their bid to reclaim the majority — some of Sen. Marklein’s district into Dane County. He now represents seven townships in the SW corner of Dane County, including the villages of Blue Mounds, Mt. Horeb, Oregon, Brooklyn, and Belleville.
State and federal aids account for 36% of the county’s budget so the State of Wisconsin has skin in the game.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: Hellz bellz, audit the entire county social services system! Of $813.7 million in spending, Dane County commits $322.4 million to social services — 39% of the entire budget. The contract agencies are always pleading their workers are underpaid while (we greatly suspect) the CEOs are raking in salaries well into the six figures. And how much duplication, overlap, and bid rigging is there?
6 responses to “We don’t know if taxpayers are being ripped off”
There are no grifter organizations on stolen land.
You’re welcome Urban Triage and The Center for Alex Gee’s new office.
39% is ripping off the taxpayers. 4,000 Non-Profits…..many licking the sap off the money tree.
Cincinnati found out what a grifter Johnson was and he soon had his tail back to the safety of Madistan.
“Build it, and they will come.” Madison/Dane County built it, and the came in droves. Now we’re paying the piper.
The head groundskeeper should have mentioned the threats that Brandy Grayson and others have made towards anybody who has challenged her and Urban Triage at the County, and city levels.
Cut off Grayson’s taxpayer-funded gravy train. Do that and my money is on her skipping town and finding another city of suckers to run a con job on in short order. She hates white people but sure loves taking their money.