Gray's team to reveal contributions

Mayor-elect Vincent C. Gray's transition team announced that it will reveal Tuesday the first report of contributions to its operations and the inaugural.

Gray also announced that individuals and groups, such as corporations and labor unions, are limited to $5,000 donations to the transition and $50,000 for the inaugural, which includes a ball on Jan. 2. The limits differ from a previous announcement that donations would be capped at $25,000 when he declared that he would not accept government funds for the transition despite the tradition.

In 2006, then-Mayor-elect Adrian M. Fenty accepted $250,000 while Gray, then the chairman-elect, accepted $150,000 following approval by the council.

Neither transition used the entire amounts. Fenty raised more than $600,000 for the inaugural ball, which was free to the public and drew about 15,000 guests at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Fenty's cap on donations was $25,000.

Gray said this year's fiscal crisis prompted him to raise private dollars for the transition as well as the inaugural. Council Chairman-elect Kwame R. Brown (D) has adopted the same stance.

"During this difficult period," Gray said in a statement, "I am committed to making all efforts to significantly reduce transition costs and to raise private dollars for this purpose."

The transition was not expected to release a report until mid-December, but government watchdogs and media have been complaining about a lack of transparency. According to a news release, another report will be issued at the end of December.