Money Trouble For Rape Crisis Center

Memphis - A regional rape crisis center in Memphis now has money troubles to go along with its shortage of nurses.

City Councilman Jim Strickland called Thursday for an independent financial audit of the Memphis Sexual Assault Resources Center. The call followed disclosure that close to $500,000 in state funding provided for the center is not included in its budget for this year.

Strickland says he wants to know where that money is and the only way find out is to have the center's books examined by auditors who do not work for the city.

In a letter from Strickland to Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton, cited funding from several non-profit organizations, Mississippi and Arkansas that reflect "signifigant variation" from the city's 2010 budget.

The rape crisis center, which is run by the city, has stirred complaints in recent weeks because of a nursing shortage that has caused delays in conducting medical exams of suspected rape victims.

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