A group of parents are asking for more transparency and oversight regarding a Denver-based non-profit after an audit discovered they misused nearly $1 million in tax dollars.
Parents of Adults with Disabilities of Colorado includes hundreds of members who have called on audits before to look at spending for organizations like Rocky Mountain Human Services.
The organization is partly funded by a mill levy where funds are taken from the city’s property tax revenue.
Last week the results from an audit by the Denver city auditor revealed the non-profit, which helps children and adults with developmental disabilities, had spent money meant for its clients on its employees.
Employees received money for things like Costco memberships and home Internet service.
The audit explains that goes beyond the agencies’ contract which specifically states it can only be spent on their clients living in Denver.
“I was astounded at the level of mismanagement at the number of dollars that were missing,” said Anne Patton, whose son has Autism and is provided services from the non-profit, “at the number of dollars that go unaccounted for, they still don't know where it’s been spent."
She attended a meeting held at the Rocky Mountain Human Services offices in Denver, but says they provided very little answers.
"It lead to more questions,” she said, “like where is the board, you know, where has the money gone?"
The city auditor’s office says the organization’s board has since relieved the executive director and chief financial officer of their duties.
However, parents like Patton says that’s not enough.
"I think the board, first of all, should answer to what they thought they were managing or not managing in the time the mill levy was in effect,” she said.