San Diego County Supervisor Dave Roberts and a citizen-appointed grant review panel will meet Friday for a public review of county grants in Escondido.
The panel, comprised of residents from across the 3rd District, will advise Roberts on Community Enhancement grant allocations.
Roberts said once he receives the panel's recommendations, he'll then submit his allocations to the county's Office of Financial Planning on June 16.
According to Roberts, the dispersal includes $708,000 in county grants.
“Community enhancement grants” are funded by transient occupancy taxes and are intended to promote tourism and economic development.
Another pool of money, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Program, which allows supervisors to issue those grants, isn't without its critics.
They claim the program essentially is a slush fund that supervisors can tap into when in need of political support.
Roberts said the grant program is important for the county "as long as it's done in an open, transparent and fair way."
Friday's meeting, which is open to the public, will take place at Roberts' Escondido district office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
