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Council, non-profits far apart on funding solution
Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008 8:10 pm
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By RUTH ANN HAGER

News Editor

WASECA — A work session at Waseca City Hall this evening could draw a crowd.

At the 6 p.m. meeting, open to the public, the Waseca City Council will continue to focus on funding procedures for the city’s non-profit agencies, which are currently funded based on the agencies’ annual requests for “outside funding.”

Sheila Morris, co-director of the Waseca County Historical Society, has put out a plea to members asking that they attend the work session to show their support.

Morris and co-director Joan Mooney and the heads of three other non-profits — the Waseca Area Senior Citizen Center, the Waseca Neighborhood Service Center, and the Waseca Arts Council — plan to be there to ask council members to maintain annual funding.

“We are united in our statement of the organizations’ requirements,” Morris said.

City manager Crystal Prentice said tonight’s session is being held at the request of the four non-profit agencies.

A copy of the draft proposal of a new funding policy was included in council members’ material for the meeting. The proposal includes plans for community enhancement grants rather than straight operating budget support.

Still, the plan is not in final form, Prentice said.

“We’re still working on details and the council will answer questions [tonight].”
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She said there will likely be changes made to the draft, most likely at a future meeting.

Morris said the agencies will ask for the council’s continued support at current or even higher levels. She is concerned that the proposed community enhancement grants would not be for operational expenses.

“We can’t afford any erosion in our operational support,” Morris said.

Although in 2008, the $8,000 the historical society received from the city was less than 10 percent of its budget, Morris said it is the equivalent of the salary of one of their staff members or cutting back museum hours.

“They get a lot for $8,000,” she said.

In June, the council agreed in principle to change the way funding requests from agencies are handled. They also want to change the idea of “outside funding” to “community enhancement projects.”

Outside funding in 2008 totaled $71,600 after the Waseca-LeSueur Regional Library ($186,742) and Community Education ($121,000) were given their own line item in the budget.

In addition to the four non-profits, the agencies funded this year also include Waseca Chamber of Commerce Fireworks and LakeFest, and Minnesota Valley Action Council’s Transportation Project.

The council has proposed setting aside a certain amount of funds as a Community Enhancement line item in the 2009 budget. Agencies would submit requests for funding of specific projects.

Morris said she has received calls from members in New Mexico and Chicago asking what is happening to the city’s financial support.

She said the historical society does not want to charge entry fees for the museum but, like other non-profits, they are experiencing an aging population of supporters.

“Every non-profit is cultivating the next generation,” Morris said.

Applications for 2009 funding are required by Aug. 1, according to the draft proposal.

A second work session now set for Aug. 5 is mandatory for all agencies seeking funding. Requests will be presented to the council and a committee of three staff members, with recommendations made to the council on Aug. 19, according to the plan.



Ruth Ann Hager is at 507- 837-5446 or rhager@wasecacountynews.com.
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By: wasecajoe on 7/15/08
good luck to who ever has to figure this one out!


 
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