Voucher program gets new scrutiny (Florida)

Posted on Sat, Aug. 23, 2003

Voucher program gets new scrutiny
Accountability being evaluated
BY MATTHEW I. PINZUR
mpinzur@herald.com

More than $400,000 of corporate donations to fund private-school scholarships for low-income students may have disappeared from an Ocala nonprofit group run by a man who was once the target of drug-trafficking and fraud investigations, Education Commissioner Jim Horne told The Herald on Friday.

The group, Silver Archer Foundation, is being cut off from participating in the state's corporate tax voucher scholarship program, and Horne said he would propose tougher regulations on who can operate the funding organizations.

''I have reason to believe they collected money and did not provide scholarships,'' he said in a phone interview. ``I'm going to disqualify them today.''

The corporate tax scholarships are the largest school voucher program in the state, serving thousands of students. Donors receive dollar-for-dollar deductions for up to 75 percent of their state tax liability.

The program came under assault this summer, primarily from Democrats who say its oversight is far too weak. The state revenue department, citing the confidentiality of tax records, has refused to release a list of companies that donate to the program. (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6598178.htm

That company should be audited and fined instead of letting them keep any money collected. Give it to the public schools.

They are accountable only to him, just as the Secretary of State, Glenda the Hood is.

There is no accountability.