“Okay! But are ya sure? ‘Cause I mean, how do you know? Do you do a count?
Or what kind of a routine do you have here?”
— Sheriff Marge Gunderson questioning new car sales manager Jerry Lundegaard
Grifters, many of them Somali immigrants, have stolen at least $9 Billion in taxpayer money in bogus social welfare scams right out from under the nose of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democrats’ most recent nominee for vice president of the USA. A state audit blamed “inadequate oversight” by Minnesota government. Prosecutors claimed that although state agencies held ultimate power, Feeding Our Future (as one example) intimidated them by wielding “accusations of racism.”
Dane County commits $322.4 million to social services — 39% of its entire budget. How much duplication, overlap, and short-shifting is there? Should not an outside agency audit the several hundred contracted providers? In January 2025 supervisors voted 28 to 5 against conducting a program audit of Urban Triage, operated by BLM activist Brandi Grayson, who just loves “F-ing white people.”
Send in the auditors
We have been badgering State Sen. Howard Marklein to sic the Legislative Audit Bureau on selected counties — Dane would be one — given that much of its funding is federal and state pass-through dollars. To no effect.
Blaska Policy Werkes has, however, secured a promising response from the Republican candidate for governor, Tom Tiffany, to do just that. We demanded, “Audit Dane County human services.” He responded, “Thanks for the suggestion. … We will audit all agencies and programs.” Admittedly, there’s a hint of automated response there, but we’ll take that as a written commitment. Has or will any of the Democrats similarly pledge?
Grayson pays herself $292,236 annually, according to an IRS 990 filing in 2023. Her agency finds low-income housing on a 2026 contract with $984,066. In fairness (a bonus, platinum subscriber-only feature of the Werkes) we compared CEO pay to total revenue reported on their IRS 990 forms by some of the larger Dane County non-profit contractors.
Little accountability?
How much confidence in Grayson’s business acumen should taxpayers place in this oft-arrested vendor? Was she awarded a government contract as a form of racial reparations by other means? Fear of the race card if not granted a contract? A researcher from the Manhattan Institute warns non-profit government contractors …
… have become not so much a policy instrument under democratic control as a sprawling, semi-autonomous administrative system with little accountability. Reformers should focus on systematic, careful oversight. Every so often, public officials should consider yanking contracts, if for no other reason than to reestablish their authority.
Blaska’s Bottom Line: For that matter, Dane County runs a seemingly ever-expanding array jail diversion programs costing at least $10 million a year. We ask an impertinent question:
How do we know they work?
‘Cause I mean, how do you know? Do they do a count?
7 responses to “How do you know? Do you do a count?”
Dave, you may have missed this, but County Executive Agard beat you to the punch. Back in January she announced a comprehensive review of Dane County’s contracting practices — all 850-odd contracts and 400-plus purchase-of-service agencies. Her words: “It’s vital that we have the right systems and safeguards in place to ensure accountability and excellence across everything we do.”
Now, whether this turns out to be a genuine audit with teeth or another exercise in bureaucratic self-congratulation remains to be seen. But give the devil her due — somebody at the City-County Building apparently got the memo that $322.4 million in social services spending deserves more than a trust-us-we’re-the-government approach to oversight.
As for the Board’s 28-to-5 vote on Urban Triage — I don’t think they so much dropped the ball as they didn’t see enough smoke to suspect a fire. They were overly cautious, and frankly, the contract language may not even give them the legal standing to demand an audit. Which is exactly why that language needs to be amended. If you’re writing checks to the tune of $322 million, you’d better have the contractual right to look at the books. As Sheriff Marge might say: “So that’s what you’ve been doing then.” Let’s hope the auditors actually show up this time.
Full announcement here: https://exec.danecounty.gov/PressDetail/11792
As for the Board’s 28-to-5 vote on Urban Triage — they would have seen smoke and fire if the contractor had been, say, a MAGA Republican.
Well aware of Exec Agard’s pronouncement. Nowhere do I see the term “audit.” And I mean performance audit, not just an accounting audit. Did X number of applicants get $XX amount of services?
Will have confidence only if audited by an outside, independent agency. No such ask has been presented to the county board two months later; in-house resources not capable of this scope. Unless I miss my mark, county does not need consent of contractors to audit. Legislative Audit Bureau has required credibility. State of WI has authority because much of county’s spending is pass-through state & federal $$$.
Very doubtful that governor can order LAB to audit but may he have other means; governor’s ask would spur legislature if it remains Republican.
If they cut off Brandi there will be trouble in the streets again.
Not sure about trouble in the streets, but I’d sell tickets to the fireworks if a team of ninja forensic accountants were to descend upon Urban Triage.
One can only hope…
Accountability? Dems only wake up to the thought of this word when the Republicans are in charge. It should apply to both sides of the aisle, but apparently not in uniparty Madison and Dane County. Talk about corruption!
Blaska, do you know how to dispute grant money given to an NGO org? I don’t see any public benefit in what Tone Madison does. They receive grant money. It’s essentially 3 hipsters generating entertainment content. Just because an org asks for grant money doesn’t mean it should get it because they have a bogus mission statement and a legal definition. In fact they charge for ad space and receive for-profit ad revenues.
Ive asked AI, but Im not getting anywhere solid. I find what Tone Madison is doing is deceptive.
Any help would be appreciated.