R.I. Legislative and Community Service Grant processes need reform
In 2008 more than $20 million in taxpayer dollars was awarded by the Rhode Island General Assembly in the form of Community Service and Legislative grants. Even the severest recession in eighty years has not eliminated these grants for another $10.6 million was spent on them in 2009. They continue unabated in FY2010.
The general public does not know how these grants are awarded. The legislative grants are awarded by the House Speaker and the Senate President. These grants are identified by the name of the individual legislator who requested the money for them. Community Service grants are “buried” in the annual state budgets. They are not identified or voted on individually. The Community Service grants do not have a legislator’s name attached to them.
In FY 2009 38 state representatives received 235 legislative grants totaling $558,000, including $150,000 for WaterFire attributed to “House Leadership.” Rep. Mattiello (Cranston) received the most money ($25,000). Rep. Vaudreuil (Central Falls and Cumberland) received the most grants (17) totaling $15,500. 39 current state representatives, including all of the Republicans, did not request any grants. At least 6 agencies received more than one House grant from two different sponsors.
In 2009 the 38 state senators received a total of 478 grants worth $1,033,373. The seven newly elected Senators did not request or receive any legislative grants. Former Senate President Montalbano and current Senate President Paiva-Weed each received more than $75,000 in legislative grants. Senator Walaska (Warwick) received the most grants (25) totaling $28,500. Eight agencies received $10,000 or more with $20,000 to the Davinci Center (Sponsor: Senator Ruggerio). At least 17 agencies received more than one grant from two or more Senate sponsors. Senators Alves and Raptakis both requested a grant for the West Warwick Senior Center, but only Senator Alves received $12,500.
Community Service grants do not have a legislator’s name attached to them. The House Finance Committee is supposed to hear requests for these grants, but very few get an in-depth hearing. Various executive branch departments are used as a “pass through” for these grants. The departments are given orders for how these monies are to be spent and have no say in these decisions.
Community Service grants are not identified in the state’s annual budget. The General Assembly votes on the budget as a whole, not on individual grants. This appears to be a violation of Article VI, Section 11 of the R.I. Constitution.
In FY 2009 349 Community Service grants, totaling about $9 million, were made to various entities, some of whom also received House and/or Senate legislative grants, such as WaterFire which received another $1500,000 in addition to the House legislative grant of $150,000. The largest grant ($528,204) went to the Children’s Crusade. Others receiving grants in excess of $200,000 include the Veterans Memorial Auditorium Foundation, VNA Statewide (Visiting Nurses), Crossroads RI, and RI Meals on Wheels. Community Service grants encompass a wide range of fields including the arts, community centers, education, health, historic preservation, neighborhood associations, seniors, social services, sports, veterans, and more. Some of these grants seem worthy. At least 67 of the Community Service grant recipients also received legislative grants from the House and/or the Senate.
Operation Clean Government (OCG) recommends eliminating the legislative grants as there is no process for legislators to vote on these grants, and many of the legislative grant recipients already get Community Service grants. There is no public record of how these grants are made nor any explanation for why one Boy Scout troop gets a legislative grant, but another does not.
OCG also recommends an in-depth review of each Community Service grant. OCG also recommends that all the Community Service grants be included in a separate budget article, not hidden in various parts of the 700-page annual budget.
Larry Valencia, OCG President, says, “In light of the projected $200 million budget shortfall reported in today’s (11/11/09) Providence Journal it is imperative that our legislators eliminate this grant process, which is wasteful, non-transparent, and creates opportunities for abuse by the General Assembly leadership.”