Missouri lawmakers press DSS on TANF cuts and grants as governor’s recommendations add new nonprofit spending
Loading...
Summary
House members challenged Department of Social Services officials over FY2027 TANF reductions, requests for 990s and audit access, and several governor‑recommended new decision items funding nonprofits (Convoy of Hope, Save Our Streets, Prosperity, pet‑grooming workforce training).
Members of the House budget subcommittee spent large portions of the Feb. 6 hearing pressing the Department of Social Services for more transparency over TANF‑funded grants and new decision items in the governor’s recommendation.
Lawmakers repeatedly asked officials to provide nonprofit 990s, budget narratives and performance metrics for organizations named in the governor’s recommended NDIs. Representative Riggs and others said the committee is expected to function as an appropriations oversight body and requested that grant applicants’ tax filings be included in future budget books as a minimum.
Committee members raised multiple concerns:
- TANF over‑appropriation and prioritization: Officials explained the FY27 TANF numbers (a $216 million block grant plus carryover) produced a shortfall that required cuts. Department staff said they worked with the Office of Administration and the governor’s office to prioritize mandatory programs and newer grant lines.
- New GovRec NDIs without details: Several NDIs appeared in the governor’s recommendation with limited program detail. Members requested MOUs, vendor contacts, expected performance measures and administrative fee allowances. Examples flagged during the hearing included Convoy of Hope ($2M NDI), a proposed $2M request for a workforce training program (pet grooming / Prosperity), and a $500k recommendation for a “Saving Our Streets” conflict‑mediation program that members tied to Arches and other local partners.
- Fraud and stewardship concerns: Multiple members invoked national cases and local anecdotes about misuse of federal food program funds to argue for better vetting and audits before state grants are awarded or renewed. Department staff said federal monitoring and audits exist for specific programs (for example, Sunbucks/Summer EBT) and pledged to share audit reports and vendor accountability materials.
Department officials said the process varies: some larger grants are competitively procured; others have been appropriated through legislative language or added via conference and governor recommendations in prior years. The department asked for time to collect proposals, MOUs and administrative‑cost details from the governor’s office where NDIs were not part of the department’s original request.
What members want next: committee members repeatedly asked for (1) nonprofit 990s for budget‑book grantees, (2) vendor MOUs and administrative‑fee expectations for new NDIs, and (3) copies of federal audit reports (Sunbucks among those cited) once available. Officials agreed to produce those materials for the committee.
