WPRI: Audit: Providence City Council has given $171K in grants since ‘07

By Dan McGowan, WPRI.com Reporter and Walt Buteau
Published: October 11, 2016, 5:42 pm  Updated: October 11, 2016, 7:32 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – The Providence City Council has given $171,000 in taxpayer-funded grants to 96 organizations since the 2006-07 fiscal year, according to a report released by the city’s internal auditor last week.

The council passed a resolution asking internal auditor Matt Clarkin to review every grant it has awarded over 10 years following the May arrest of Councilman Kevin Jackson, who prosecutors say embezzled $127,000 from a youth track-and-field team that was partially funded by the city.

Clarkin’s review shows that 96 different organizations received 139 donations during the 10-year period. He said 71% of the organizations responded to his inquiries, while 6% did not respond. Letters to the rest of the organizations were returned due to invalid mailing addresses.

Read: The full audit | See each grant

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