This Federal CDBG program has been administered by the U.S.Department of Housing and Development. It has taken federal income tax revenue and “redistributed it” to state and local government offices to help with “special projects”.
Update 5-30-2015: The City of Paterson, NJ’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program Controls Did Not Ensure Compliance With Regulations.
The MDj article (4-28-14, Page 7A) mentioned that this program’s funds (i.e., Federal tax $) have “financed several significant quality of life improvements.”
The 2014 bill passed by US Congress includes, compared to final FY 2013 levels, a 2 percent cut to the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG).
My humble opinion: The CDBG Program is a side show by US Congress to how they are throwing peanuts of our tax revenue back to states for “fluff” projects that should be decided on and financed by local communities. Why not eliminate these Federal grants and allow state and local governments to determine whether these “improvements” need to be made and how to finance them?