City revisits grant funding for local non-profits in FY 2013-14 Budget

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter – News Analyst

At a half-hour long special meeting on October 1, 2013, the Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) returned to the task of allocating $10,000 from the FY2013-14 budget in response to grant requests from local nonprofit agencies.  When the final vote was taken, the FBCC approved $5,000 for the Nassau County Council on Aging, $3,000 for Nassau Mental Health (Starting Point), $1,000 for the Barnabas Center and $1,000 for Micah’s Place.  The allocations were approved on a 3-2 vote with Mayor Sarah Pelican and Commissioner Pat Gass dissenting.

Upon gaveling the meeting to order, Mayor Pelican immediately recognized Vice Mayor Charlie Corbett, who complained about what he characterized as unfounded criticism from the community over the city’s failure to fund social service nonprofit agencies in the new budget.

“In the last few days I received some emails about basically some letter or column that was on a local blog and social media which made a claim that this commission was buying chairs and carpeting instead of giving money to the nonprofits.  Well, I’d like to read some numbers off here.”  He cited the city’s declining support trend for such funding from FY 2008-09 ($103,264) to last year ($45,000).

He continued, “My purpose in doing this is that this is the only commission in the last 6 years that has not reduced funds for nonprofits.  So whoever wrote that blog, whoever that is, didn’t bother to check any of this, they just bloviated.  In my opinion whoever wrote that was a buffoon that didn’t do nothin’, didn’t bother to do their homework, check nothing,, and bloviated and rattled on about nothing.  So I like to make sure that it is emphasized that this commission has given exactly the same amount of money as the commission did last year.  So we’re not reducing anything, and this is the first time in 6 years that that hasn’t happened.  So I’d like that to go down for the record.”

Commissioner Arlene Filkoff asked City Comptroller Patti Clifford to confirm that the city had budgeted the same amount to fund non-profit grants this year as in the previous year.  Clifford responded that once the FBCC had instructed her to put the $10,000 back into that account that they had previously stripped out during budget workshops, that was true.

Corbett jumped in, “So in other words, it didn’t get reduced, did it?”  Clifford agreed.

Filkoff said, “I understand the allocation exercise tonight, but originally in the budget process we were talking about allocating $35,000 for non profits for FY 2013-14.”  Clifford recapped how the initial budget placeholder had dropped to $10,000 for discretionary allocation following earlier budget discussions of the FBCC.  Vice Mayor Charlie Corbett did not attend some of those meetings.

Corbett suggested “for discussion” that the FBCC consider allocating to the requesting social service agencies the same amounts as in the previous year.

Commissioner Gass once more voiced her objections to government’s deciding which non-profits deserve public support, “because everyone has a different idea.”  However, recognizing that not all commissioners shared her viewpoint, she offered an alternative:  divide the unallocated $10,000 among all the non-profits in the city.  According to a list she had compiled, this would entail supporting 31 agencies or programs.

Comptroller Clifford interjected, explaining that not all 31 of these organizations had applied for grant funding, meaning that the city had not had an opportunity to review their justification or financial statements.  Gass asked, “Where is it written that unless you apply you [get no funding]?”

Pelican reminded commissioners that the city’s initial announcement to previously funded nonprofits was purposefully worded to inform prospective applicants that due to budget constraints, prospects for funding in FY 2013-14 were not promising.

Commissioner Ed Boner supported broadening the list of potential grant recipients to include Episcopal Children’s Services (ECS), citing the additional benefits from a 19:1 match for that organization.  Corbett opined that because of the broad regional reach of that organization, ECS had other resources to tap.

Commissioner Arlene Filkoff, in response to Gass’ suggestion to broaden the pool of recipients said that the city’s philosophy in recent times has been to limit financial support to service organizations as opposed to event-related organizations.  Boner agreed, citing support for assistance to the elderly over the arts and to those organizations with strong volunteer bases.  Filkoff added that she supported limiting grant funding to those organizations that had applied and those that have the greatest impact on the city.

Gass was not persuaded.  “We are not qualified to play God,” she said.  She was certain that some in the community would also cite the impact of arts, conservation efforts and other activities as educational benefits for the community.

Pelican added that she would like to see some support for Episcopal Children’s Services and the Film Festival.

Finally, Corbett moved and Filkoff seconded a motion to allocate the $10,000 as follows:  Nassau County Council on Aging – $5,000; Nassau Mental Health (Starting Point) – $3,000;  Barnabas Center – $1,000; Micah’s Place – $1,000.

Boner supported the motion, while Pelican and Gass remained opposed.  The motion passed on a 3-2 vote.

While several members of the public were in attendance, the Mayor did not seek public input during the meeting.

During budget meetings and workshops throughout the summer, the FBCC had considered the allocation of $60,000 to meet social service needs and non-profit grant requests.  Of that amount, Commissioners set aside $25,000 to cover waived sewer bills for qualified elderly, indigent or low-income homeowners.  At that time they also agreed to grant the Amelia Island Museum of History $10,000 on two grounds:  because the Museum receives no additional funding from Nassau County and because the Museum performs work for the city by staffing the Marine Welcome Center.  They then “transferred” $15,000 from City grants to the Capital Improvement Fund to increase the funding for the purchase a replacement bus for the Parks and Recreation Department.  Initially, the Commission of four (Corbett was absent) could not agree on the remaining $10,000 and so it was eliminated from the Proposed Budget. $10,000 was added back into the Adopted Budget after much haranguing on September 3^rd as a budget place holder to be allocated at a future date.

The final allocations are represented in the spreadsheet below.  Note that agencies that have requested past support are also listed as budget placeholders, even though they have not currently requested funding.  (Source:  Fernandina Beach Finance Department)

Editor’s Note:  Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city.  We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.

October 2, 2013 8:12 p.m.