BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott’s office is unable to fully explain how it spent millions of dollars it received from the taxpayer-backed Baltimore Children and Youth Fund nonprofit, according to a Spotlight on Maryland investigation.
Budget documents, City Council testimonies, media statements and press releases reveal inconsistent messaging from the mayor’s office on how it asked for, received and spent BCYF money, which is more than 99% funded by Baltimore City taxpayers. The uncertainty comes ahead of a Baltimore City Council committee hearing this month on a bill that would establish a series of new regulations and oversight of BCYF — legislation opposed by Scott and BCYF. Meanwhile, the Baltimore City Inspector General is preparing a second report on BCYF’s operations, following an initial report last month that found flaws in oversight from Baltimore City officials over the nonprofit.
Since the announcement of BCYF’s partnership with Scott’s office in March, Spotlight on Maryland has asked Baltimore City officials to provide clarity on how much it received and how it spent money from the taxpayer-funded nonprofit this year. A spokesman for the mayor’s office on Tuesday said that BCYF sent $5.9 million to the administration this year: $4.9 million for the YouthWorks program that provides paid summer jobs for teens and adolescents, and $1 million for the mayor’s “Summer Youth Engagement Strategy” that hosted organized pool parties and block parties for youth…