Millions of taxpayer dollars have been directed to Florida A&M University which served as a conduit for passing on to nonprofit groups with close ties to two term-limited state senators, a Jacksonville Times-Union investigation has revealed.
Orlando Democrat Gary Siplin and Jacksonville Republican Stephen Wise obtained the funds during final budget negotiations; the normal appropriations’ channels were not followed, jacksonville.com reported.
Although the money was put in FAMU’s budget for Targeted Student Assistance Program, it’s not meant for the institution.
“The Targeted Student Assistance grant funds included in the FAMU 2010-11 and 2011-12 budgets are pass-through funds in which the university serves solely as the fiscal agent,” said Sharon Saunders, a FAMU spokeswoman in a statement, jacksonville.com reported.
In the 2010-2011 budget, the FAMU program was funded to the tune of $10.8 million, including an additional $5 million in the current budget, not yet disbursed. To date, $6.9 million has gone to the Professional Opportunities Program for Students, or POPS, a nonprofit founded by Siplin in 2001, according to the paper.
A federal audit of some of the money found, inadequate safeguards were in place to ensure it was being used correctly.
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