State agencies in the state allocate millions of taxpayer dollars to non-profit organizations each year, often with vague objectives for how the funds should be used, according to a recent investigation.
The report found that oversight of non-profit spending is insufficient. Non-profits have been documented using taxpayer funds for questionable expenses, including midnight Lyft rides to bars and nightclub rental fees, the office said.
Additionally, no state agency could provide comprehensive data on how much taxpayer money has gone to non-profits or which organizations received funding, the report stated. In response, the office developed a non-profit spending dashboard to improve transparency for taxpayers.
The dashboard allows users to search by agency and non-profit to see how funds are being spent, aiming to increase accountability and public awareness.
