If you remember from a few weeks back, the Shreveport City Council's committee on the Multicultural Center of the South decided to offer the organization the full $200,000 it has given yearly since 1996. (That totals $2.8 million, by the way.)
On April 14, the mayor's office said that wouldn't take an additional vote from the council. Apparently since then, the story has changed. That led to a proposed resolution on this week's council agenda directing the city administrator to cut the organization a $50,000 check. (That would cover the first-quarter amount it should receive.)
The center has had money troubles during the past few years. City and organization leaders point to big utility expenses to the tune of $6,400 monthly bills when it was housed in the city's 53,000-square-foot building at 401 Texas St. The center since has moved to an 8,100-square-foot structure at 520 Spring St.
But today, a little more about the center's money troubles came out. Mayor Cedric Glover continually has asked for proof that the center is serving a community need. City money should not simply be covering administrative expenses, he said.
Council Chair Joyce Bowman told the mayor she didn't like "playing games" and to say what really was on his mind. Instead, council Clerk Arthur Thompson offered information he had gotten from the mayor's office. The organization apparently owes some back taxes. More than $700 to be exact.
To add to the confusion: The Multicultural Center is a nonprofit. No one seemed to have a clear answer about how to handle the latest situation, but the mayor and Councilman Monty Walford said that shouldn't necessarily stop the council from directing city money to the organization.
So we'll see what comes out of the discussion Tuesday.
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| Roy Jackson, left, and Timothy Borner move items into the new Multicultural Center on Jan. 13. |
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