State auditors and administrators of the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Marines’ Fund disagree as to whether the fund is required to post meeting schedules, agendas and minutes online and with the Secretary of the State.
An audit of the fund for fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013 found that the agency did not make those public disclosures.
The American Legion, which has administered the fund since 1919, argued in the audit that neither it nor its Connecticut subsidiary are public agencies, and therefore public disclosure laws do not apply.
Auditors disagreed, writing that the legion “appears to be performing the governmental function of disbursing public funds through the authorization of state statues.”
They recommended that the SSMF, which disburses temporary financial assistance to eligible military veterans and their dependents, seeks an official opinion from the Freedom of Information Commission or the state’s Attorney General.
