Council considers funding non-profits

Mayor Lynne Skelton wants the Town Council to discuss when and why the town should fund non-profit agencies, but on Monday asked to have that discussion postponed until Town Council members are better prepared by town staff.

What could be at stake, depending on other budget considerations, is the $72,000 that the council has budgeted this fiscal year for these non-profit agencies: Green Valley Assistance Services, which got $43,000 this year; the Green Valley Community Food Bank, $19,000; and STOP (Sahuarita Team Offers Prevention), $10,000. Before this year, the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance, a pro-tourism agency, and the Titan Missile Museum each received $5,000 a year for two years.

The question of funding non-profit agencies was on Monday’s agenda, but the town manager and two council members absent.

However, Skelton said the reason for seeking postponement was that “we haven’t answered the fundamental question on the role of this government, the Town of Sahuarita, in funding non-profits.

“I’d like to continue this and work with Mr. Stahle and one or two other Town Council members to answer basic questions,” then bring the matter back to the full council.

Acting Assistant Town Manager John Harris had prepared a detailed survey of the application process used by other towns and cities that provide funds to non-profit agencies, but Skelton said at this point she is more interested in why the town should fund outside agencies and when, rather than how to process applications.

The funding issue could be a divisive one and Skelton hopes to guide a discussion that will avoid rigid philosophical positions.

Council Member Kara Egbert in June voted against the current multi-million dollar town budget because it included the funding for non-profits, and said taxpayer funds should not fund private charities. That was the first council challenge to the idea of funding outside agencies.

Council members over the past three years have approved $187,000 in funding for outside agencies without answering Skelton’s past calls for a discussion on the town’s role in finding private agencies. On the other side, council member Rosanna Gabaldon has advocated funding only outside agencies that provide direct human services, which would exclude the heritage alliance and missile museum.

After the meeting, Skelton pointed out that the town must provide some services mandated by the state Constitution, including public safety, transportation and parks and recreation, and that the town council has chosen to provide additional services, such as the housing program, the citizen’s leadership academy and hiring an economic development manager, a web manager and a communications manager, among others.

The mayor said holding a discussion of why the council funds activities beyond the core services could help inform the council in its budget discussion to be held next spring for the 2010-11 budget, which must be approved before June 30, and could help to soften council members’ philosophical positions. As an example, she noted that the heritage alliance might help create tourism jobs that would help reduce the demands on the food bank and GVAS.

The council also held a graduation ceremony Monday night for the 19 new graduates of the town’s Citizens Leadership Academy.

Officials announced that two new staff have been hired, Mary Reynolds, who started work last week as a community communications coordinator, and Justin St. John, who currently works for the Green Valley News/Sahuarita Sun and becomes the town’s web master Monday.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738