Nonprofits make plea for funding

Funding pleas were made before McMinnville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday by unhappy nonprofit leaders who felt officials were wrong in cutting out their donations entirely.

Representatives from Habitat for Humanity, Business Roundtable, Books from Birth and Kids of the Community asked that reconsideration be given to providing them with money. Each of those had their requests denied by the city Finance Committee and were removed from the city’s proposed 2022-23 fiscal year budget.

Christie Allison denied Vice Mayor Everett Brock’s previous statement that they have “money in the bank” and says the city’s decision was detrimental to Books from Birth.

“Right now, I have enough to buy books for four more months. I have $6,000 in the bank. The program costs $1,500 a month. Sometimes it’s over that,” Allison said. “If we don’t get some money, I don’t know what will happen to Books from Birth.”

Requested was $10,000. Allocated to the organization last year was $7,000.

Todd Herzog, who represented Habitat for Humanity and Business Roundtable (Citizens for Progress Scholarship fund), stated that Habitat’s house construction program is on its 35th home and those efforts have added $20,000 a year in additional property tax revenue to city government and that Business Roundtable members go above and beyond in their fundraising efforts.

“The scholarship fund is near and dear to my heart,” Herzog said. “We put so much effort into fundraising. I don’t think there’s an organization that works as hard as we do at fundraising.”

Habitat requested $10,000. Business Roundtable requested $10,000.

Barry Dishman, director of Kids of the Community, stated the importance of community programs.

“Eleven years ago we started Backyard Bible Club,” Dishman said. “We had a child… I don’t want to call him out. If his mom was here, she would proudly stand here and tell you. He started coming to Backyard Bible Club. As he got older, he ended up getting a Habitat House. It changed their lives. It pulled them from their station in life, just because his organization was successful and got them out of the environment. He worked for me for many summers and he’s proudly serving your country as of today.”

During the meeting Brock stated, “The Finance Committee can discuss this. If we approve our budget tonight, it can be amended before the next meeting. We’ll give it some thought.”

Board members did approve a consolidated budget for fiscal year 2022-23 and a new salary compensation plan for city employees. It did not include a property tax rate increase.

A Finance Committee meeting has been set for Tuesday, June 21 at 12:30 pm at City Hall.