SNOW HILL – Discussion regarding nonprofit funding requests highlighted a Worcester County budget work session this week.
On Tuesday, the Worcester County Commissioners considered nonprofit funding requests one by one in an effort to balance the county’s $199 million budget. While various commissioners advocated for various organizations, many requests, particularly new ones, went unfunded.
“I think we should be careful about taking on any nonprofits,” Commissioner Jim Bunting said. “The list grows and grows.”
The largest appeal for funds in the “Other Social Services” portion of the proposed budget came from Atlantic General Hospital. The hospital requested its usual $75,000 in funding as well as $225,000 for its capital campaign.
Though the recommendation from a committee of county staff was to fund just the $75,000, Commissioner Bud Church was quick to propose an alternative. He asked the commissioners to give the hospital $175,000 — the regular contribution plus $100,000 for its capital campaign.
“They’re bringing a $35 million project to Worcester County,” he said. “They’re bringing salaries of the top personnel to the county.”
Church argued that if the Worcester County Economic Development Department brought an investment that big to the county officials would offer it financial support.
The commissioners voted 5-2, with Bunting and Commissioner Chip Bertino opposed, to include $175,000 for the hospital in the budget.
The Worcester County Humane Society requested $20,000 in the budget. Commissioner Joe Mitrecic asked his peers to consider providing the organization with some funding even if it wasn’t $20,000.
“They pick up animals all over the north end,” he said. “I’d like to see if we couldn’t give them something, they do provide a service to the county.”
Church agreed.
“They do a terrific job out there,” he said.
Bertino said the county already funded animal control.
“My concern is we’re already paying for the services of animal control,” he said, adding that if the humane society was funded taxpayers would be paying for a duplication of services.
Church replied that if the humane society abandoned its efforts the responsibilities of animal control would double. When a vote was called, he and Mitrecic were the only commissioners who wanted to provide the humane society with funding.
The commissioners were also divided on the Maryland Food Bank’s request for $10,000. In the end, they decided to give the nonprofit $1,500.
“They feed a lot of people,” Commissioner Diana Purnell said.
The commissioners quickly agreed that the Salvation Army of the Lower Eastern Shore request for $15,000 in funding was too high.
“I think it needs to be zeroed out,” Bunting said.
The commissioners agreed unanimously to give the organization $2,000.
Commissioner Merrill Lockfaw advocated strongly for support of the Samaritan Shelter. The Pocomoke area organization asked the county for $30,000 in funding.
“In the south end of the county we have so much of a drug issue, so many people on the streets…,” Lockfaw said. “The need is growing.”
His motion to grant the full request failed, supported by just him, Purnell and Church. Instead the commissioners approved providing the nonprofit with its usual $20,000 grant.
In the section of the budget devoted to recreation and culture, the commissioners were also divided in their consideration of funding requests. While new appeals from the Girdletree Foundation, Lower Eastern Shore Heritage and the Lower Shore Land Trust were not funded, the commissioners did agree to a grant for the Mar-Va Theater.
“They’ve run into some financial difficulties,” Lockfaw said, adding that they’d had to purchase new projectors. “I think if they can ride this storm and get through this they’ll be self-sufficient.”
He said the theater was well used in Pocomoke and provided a lot of entertainment for area children.
“If this were to close, it’d be devastating for Pocomoke,” he said, making a motion to give the organization $15,000.
Bunting said that once the commissioners provided funding to an organization they were likely to receive a request from that group every year.
“It’s a new request,” he said. “I don’t think we need to take on new requests.”
Lockfaw argued that the Pocomoke area was struggling.
“We need to look at the county as a whole,” he said.
Church agreed.
“That’s the most underprivileged part of the county,” he said.
Purnell also spoke strongly in support of the request.
“This is their history,” she said. “It gives the town pride. They’ve got to start somewhere. We have to help where we can.”
The commissioners voted 4-2, with Ted Elder abstaining and Bertino and Bunting in opposition, to give $15,000 to the Mar-Va Theater.
The commissioners also agreed to provide the Delmarva Discovery Center with $40,500, albeit after much debate.
“Each year this has come up they’ve told us this is the last year they’ll ask for funds,” Bertino said.
Church said Stacey Weisner, the director hired in 2014, had made improvements at the facility.
“She has turned the Discovery Center around,” Church said. “She said if she could get through this year she wouldn’t have to come back.”
Church also pointed out that the Pocomoke community didn’t have the array of potential private donors the Ocean City community did.
Lockfaw said the Discovery Center did have a popular new otter exhibit and was visited by numerous school groups. Mitrecic agreed.
“I think you have to look at this across the board,” he said. “They host a tremendous amount of schoolchildren … it gives them something to do other than sit at home and play video games.”
Bunting said he would not support funding the facility again, as it was already three years beyond the five years of financial support requested when it opened.
Purnell again advocated for south end of the county.
“It’s never a waste of money when you invest in the county and invest in your kids,” she said.
The commissioners voted 4-3, with Bunting, Bertino and Elder opposed, to provide the Discovery Center with $40,500.
The commissioners are expected to officially adopt the fiscal year 2018 budget June 6.