TV Commentator Michael Putney on County Commissioner Discrectionary Funds. By Geniusofdespair

I hate to toot my own horn but I have been complaining about these funds since Nov. 18, 2006 and in multiple posts thereafter! Putney wrote about it today in an op ed (Get rid of officials' slush funds) almost 3 years later. And, I did call the Inspector General's office Michael Putney. They said they NEVER did an audit on any of these Discretionary Fund recipients. And, you miss one point: Why can't we give to most of the charities ourselves? Why do we need Commissioners to give OUR MONEY and get all the accolades? I am glad to see that Gimenez has softened his position and that Sorenson is open to change. According to Putney:

Katy Sorenson, who says she'd be willing to forgo the current discretionary spending arrangement in favor of a regular budget process in which the commission collectively allocated the money.

Gimenez says that he would consider it, too. They're on the right track.

Putney says:

Altogether, Miami-Dade commissioners give away almost $9.5 million annually, according to Miami Herald reporters Matt Haggman and Jack Dolan. The money comes from a variety of sources -- the majority from federal Community Development Block Grants -- but in the end it all comes from taxpayers. Most winds up in the pockets of small business people who need a little financial boost or with nonprofit, charitable and community-based organizations that provide generally worthwhile programs and services.

But some unknown part of the money winds up in the hands of people whose principal qualification is simply knowing their county commissioner. Or perhaps it's the commissioner who wants to get to know his constituents and throws a little party for them, courtesy of his District Discretionary Fund. For example, ''Pepe's Summer Blast,'' thrown by Commissioner Jose ''Pepe'' Diaz at the bargain price of $10,850.