Opinions differ on use of local funds

Susan Miles has been assisting disabled athletes for 29 years, the last eight years as director of Special Olympics Missouri, Southwest Area.

However, Miles was terminated from that position Feb. 13, she said, after she voiced concerns regarding the appropriation of local donations.

The problem, Miles said, was that local monies were not always staying local because any year-end profits were distributed through Jefferson City, the statewide organization's headquarters.

The local Special Olympics organizations could request that half of the profits go back into the community following approval from the state office, she added, but it is an eight- to 12-month process.

Mark Musso, Special Olympics Missouri president and chief executive officer, declined to comment on Miles' dismissal: "We can't discuss why somebody was terminated," but he did elaborate on the appropriation process.

Musso said that any year-end surplus is split into two pots.

"Fifty percent is spent by the area in unbudgeted program equipment," Musso said. "The other 50 percent goes into a pool."

The distribution of the funds in the statewide pool is decided by a vote at the annual staff retreat.

This year's surplus is going into a new statewide advertising campaign consisting of a public service announcement, print ads and billboards, Musso said.

"The money that is raised in our nine areas is spent in our nine areas," he said. "It's been stated on numerous occasions that the reason for (Miles) termination was because she fought for the money to come back there, and that's just absolutely false. There is no truth to that whatsoever."