SF to pay millions in grants back to feds
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 08/02/2008 09:58:39 PM PDT


SAN FRANCISCO—Authorities have so far provided justification for only 127 of more than 2,300 border prosecution cases the city has billed to a federal government grant program.
San Francisco should not have taken any of the more than $5 million in grants it received from the Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative programs, according to a federal audit. The program reimburses authorities in border states who handle cases referred by the federal government.

After the audit, San Francisco officials—including the offices of District Attorney Kamala Harris and the sheriff—admitted they could not provide justification for any of the money. Harris opened an investigation into the matter and has called for a review panel to monitor procedures for how city departments receive grants.

According to City Controller Ben Rosenfeld only 127 cases prosecuted since 2003 deserve repayment. Rosenfeld says at a minimum the city will have to repay about $2.45 million on top of the $2.7 million it has already returned to the government.

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