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By JOHN W. ALLMAN
The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - The Tampa-Hillsborough Urban League is jeopardizing a contract with Hillsborough County by refusing to open its books, or its office doors, to county finance officials. The same office on north Howard Avenue that the county provided more than $400,000 last year to help bail the Urban League out of two dozen payments for construction liens and other delinquent payments to contractors.
Eric Johnson, county finance director, said the non-profit charity has failed to comply with the terms of an October 2005 contract to receive $97,512 to host a race relations symposium for 800 people. The county has not given any money yet because the Urban League has refused to provide an audit for its current fiscal year.
“We sent a staff member who deals with that contract out to that office†last week, Johnson said, “and they wouldn’t let him in the door.â€
The charity announced the same day that it was shuttling two state-funded programs to another Tampa charity, the Derrick Brooks Charities Youth Programs. Urban League board officials hinted that the charity might dissolve its operation after 84 years. Lois Davis, board chairwoman, said the Urban League would take 30 days to consider its future. In April, charity officials said they were $3.1-million in debt. Since then, a majority of staff members have left, board members have resigned and top executives have moved on to other agencies.
Davis refused to say more Tuesday. “There will be additional comments, but it won’t be today,†she said.
The charity approached the county in 2005 and asked for help digging out of debt with a major restoration project at the historic office space, Centro Espanol, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Urban League bought the building from the city of Tampa for $1 in 1999.
“I value the organization and their history,†Johnson said. “I’m just frustrated with the fact they’ve made some bad management decisions that have put them in this financial situation.â€
Johnson said no decision has been made by the county about whether it will seek to close its contract with the charity.
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Posted by Dominick Alesandrini, Tampa on 06/28 at 06:47 AM
I am not surprised that the Urban League’s behavior has come into question. Again. Whom ever is at the helm has been steering them off course for years. They have taken forever to complete the project on Howard avenue. They have not been responsible with the funding both public and private. For the Urban League to move ahead, there needs to be changes in the management. No additional funding should be made available until a complete audit of this agency has been done. I will bet there has been misappropriation of funds and thats why they won’t provide the requested documents. There will be more to come, I’m sure.