Although its funding has decreased in recent years, a New Haven nonprofit with a powerful state senator on its payroll continues to receive state dollars, according to the state’s transparency website.
Toni Harp, a Democrat, is the chairwoman of the appropriations committee that controls the state budget. Her day job is overseeing “homeless services” for the Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center. She is also running to be the next mayor of New Haven.
In fiscal year 2011, 10 percent of Hill Health Center’s total revenue came from various state agencies, according to Connecticut’s government transparency website. That year, it received $4,985,053 from the state and in fiscal year 2012, it received $4,552,457.
Harp specifically disclosed two state grants on her most recent ethics form: a Department of Social Services grant for $121,000 for homeless health services and a Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services case management grant for $75,000.
The center reported between $45 and $47 million in revenue each year to the IRS.
The state site did not have information on payments to the health center prior to 2011. However, the IRS forms show that between 2008 and 2010, approximately 20 percent of the yearly revenue came from state grants.
Hill Health Center received three separate awards between 2009 and 2010 under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The largest award of $1,288,520 was allotted for implementing an “equipment-only” IT project. The federal government also gave money for recruitment services and early intervention and prevention services.
Between 18 and 30 percent of the revenue comes from regular federal funding.
Harp is not listed as a highly-compensated or key employee on the IRS forms so the center is not required to disclose her salary. According to the transparency site, her legislative salary has been more than $40,000 a year since 2010.
Harp has been on leave from Hill Health Center since July 1 because of her mayoral campaign, according to her legislative staff and the center.
Jordan Otero is a summer 2013 Yankee Institute journalism intern. She is a senior studying journalism at Franciscan University of Steubenville. She lives in Southington.