05/16/2017 (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEPARTMENTAL MATTERS Other Counties have taken a different approach altogether and have eliminated funding for Nonprofit Agencies. One example is Collier County, which phased out contract agency funding over a two year period. This phase-out provided a two year period for the agencies to secure alternative funding to replace the county funds. Board policy discussion, as well as public input, focused on not making "charitable contributions" with taxpayer funds. In addition, discussion also focused on the difficulties in making funding decisions among multiple and worthy social service agencies. Brevard County is also proposing to phase out funding to local nonprofit agencies over a five year period. The following was excerpted from a recent Florida Today article. "Brevard County will phase out giving money to local nonprofits over the next five years. Under the current "community-based organization" grant program, the county gives $510,200, which helps pay for a total of 15 programs provided by 12 nonprofit organizations in the current budget year. Advocates for the programs said that the services they provide help reduce the potential costs to government of more costly services that otherwise would be needed; the county grants help provide the match for other grants they might receive; and they would have to reduce the reach of their programs without the county money. But at a time when the county is struggling with 'a backlog of $156.58 million in road maintenance projects, some of the county commissioners indicated at a budget workshop Tuesday that the tax dollars would be better spent elsewhere. The five-year phaseout was a compromise to a plan that would have cut the funding totally in the next budget year, which begins Oct. 1." Option 1 As noted previously, the Mental Health Walk -In Clinic, Harvest Food Outreach Center (now known as United Against Poverty), the 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast, Inc., and Senior Services have all received funding in excess of the 4 year cap outlined in the Indian River County Outside Agency Funding Policy. One option is to waive the 4 year funding limitation for one year and provide funding for these organizations in FY2017/18 (based on approved funding in FY2017; Senior Services would be capped at their FY2016 funding level as this amount was approved by budget amendment) and then eliminate funding for nonprofit agencies completely in FY2018/19. This would provide the agencies with one year to develop alternative funding sources to replace county. funding. No new agencies would be considered for funding from the General Fund in FY2017/18 or in future years unless they qualify for the Quasi -Nonprofit category. A new request for $11,110 in funding was submitted by For the Love of Paws for fiscal Year 2017/18. P130