In the Sept. 6 Maui News, the lead article was on the attorney general's preliminary report on Wailuku Main Street Association citing nepotism in hiring, conflicts of interest, little evidence of program services and lack of response for additional information requested by the AG.
This county has been very generous in giving money to private nonprofits. Isn't it embarrassing it took an internal conflict in WMSA to bring this shame to light? WMSA received more than $2 million over the last 10 years and no one in the county asked meaningful questions or audited the organization.
The county gives more than $24 million in grants annually. With the WMSA brouhaha in mind, did the county establish a procedure by which all grantees must submit meaningful data and measurable objectives by which the county can determine if the nonprofits are meeting the stated objectives?
With the Office of the Mayor, departments of Human Concerns, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Water Supply handing out the money and ostensibly the Department of Finance reviewing how the money is spent, it is doubtful that nonprofits submit measurable data. I suspect the nonprofits submit expenditure reports (how the money was spent) and not how the nonprofits are meeting their objectives.
All nonprofits should be required to submit meaningful progress reports on meeting performance measures and the report made public. Let's not have another WMSA embarrassment.
Ken Taira
Haiku
