Funding for community organizations under scrutiny

Contract for service likely to replace grants

The Gunnison County Board of Commissioners raised more questions about funding for community-based organizations (CBOs) at a work session on July 26. The commissioners have yet to make a decision on how they’ll go about funding CBOs for the 2012 budget, but considerable emphasis was placed on clarifying the types of organizations the county should fund as well as moving from a granting process to a contract for services approach.

“To muddy the waters without moving ahead much on a decision regarding contract for services,” said Commissioner Hap Channell, who said he attended the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley award ceremony on Wednesday. “I took the program from that and did a quick comparison—not dollar amounts—to organizations that received funding from both the county and the foundation. Quite a few of them are making applications and getting awards from both… what that means, I don’t know.”
Channell went on to raise a number of matters for consideration, noting that one request for funding came from a municipality. He suggested that although rare, such a request ought to come to the county through a town council.
Channell also questioned whether the Board of County Commissioners should address how it funds county-wide programs versus programs at one end of the valley or the other.
“We also tend to be heavy on health and welfare. So does the foundation, incidentally,” Channell continued. “What are our thinkings on this? For all of these things?”
“The vast majority [of money] put out basically goes to the same organizations, and it’s the bulk of the [available] money, and I think those need to be contract for services,” commissioner Paula Swenson said. “People even thinking there’s $150,000 out there for CBOs, it’s silly if you look at the ones we continually support and want to support. I think we should contract for service for those.There are other entities that do funding for community programs.”
The 2011 budget set aside $150,000 for funding to community-based organizations, but at a previous June 28 work session, the commissioners and county staff began to question the best allocation of county funds. In response to that meeting, county finance director Linda Nienhueser and assistant finance director Ben Cowan brought one possible breakout to Tuesday’s work session. It included a possible $88,500 for contract for services, but Nienhueser was careful to point out that amount is not yet a real number—what the commissioners identify as contract for services organizations would ultimately determine that amount. In response, commissioner Paula Swenson suggested that each commissioner spend time identifying and prioritizing organizations and services.
“Personally, I’d like to see $75,000 set aside for economic development as we figure out how we move forward with that as a community,” Swenson said. That amount, however, might not be available. Swenson went on to identify programs like the Gunnison Conservation District, the Welfare Leagues and Safe Ride that have historically been funded by the county and could be included under contract for services.
“Pretty soon we’re at $100,000, and that should be what we contract for services with,” Swenson said.
“I’m on the same page approximately, but I think we do need to go do our homework,” Channell said. “I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel and say $50,000 for economic development. I think we have to have some sense as to what we’re paying for and why that amount… We need to think about CBO—is contract for services inclusive enough that we can cut the CBO process completely or not? But I do think we need more work on this.”
 “I want to make sure we’re contracting for services we feel fall under county responsibilities,” commissioner Phil Chamberland later added. “Things like Six Points would obviously create a gap the county would fill. Some of these others, they’re not really a county responsibility.”
Channell agreed, adding that some organizations have worthy causes but clearly address issues specific to municipalities. He used the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition as an example—a great organization, he said, but directly relevant to the Crested Butte water supply.
“A little scrutiny is appropriate,” Channell said.
“How much dollar amount do we want to put in contract for services?” Swenson asked.”
“If we fine-tune the approximate organizations, that’s going to inform that dollar amount,” Channell said.
“I’d like to see us come down on that amount, which has been the trend,” Chamberland added. “I would not mind seeing that total come down some more.”
The commissioners then turned to staff to help them identify any “in kind” contributions the county makes, such as office space, and historically funded organizations that might not be funded currently so that potential contracts for service don’t get overlooked.
“We have to make sure part of this process is looking at it on yearly basis so we’re somehow recording and making sure it’s efficient,” Cowan said. “If there are new organizations that might provide better service or a service that in the past wasn’t needed, how do they get in the door?”
Cowan also suggested that the commissioners consider increasing discretionary funding for unforeseen causes or organizations that might need support, including some of the outlying communities like Somerset and Pitkin that do not have the fundraising base seen in the Gunnison Valley. He also suggested that some county departments may opt to absorb the cost of certain services into their budgets. According to Cowen, the Planning Department continued to help fund the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) after the County stopped because the Planning Department relied on information the UGRWCD provided.
The commissioners agreed to spend time before their next work session on August 9 identifying potential organizations for contract for service.
“We all need to come back with our lists ASAP, but I’m understanding we want to do contract for services,” Swenson said.
“Decrease the total amount and do away with CBO,” Chamberland added.    
“I’m not ready for that,” Channell responded.
“I know, but we’re all putting our thoughts on the table and those are mine,” Chamberland said.