The Cook County commissioners continued the grueling process of budget planning last week, on Tuesday, August 25 tackling discretionary funding—the requests from the organizations that offer services that are not mandated, but are near and dear to the hearts of many citizens. Working their way down a list of 17 entities requesting a total of $298,656, commissioners sought consensus on how much—if anything—would be granted to each group. After much discussion, the board whittled down the total to $203,500.
No funding decision for Gunflint Hills, Community Ed
Decisions were postponed for two requests, from the Gunflint Hills Golf Course for $5,000 and Cook County Community Education for $15,000. For Gunflint Hills, questions were raised about the cost for rounds of golf. Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk asked if they had considered raising their rates. She noted that the county had tennis courts that needed repair and said she’d rather see the county spend its recreational dollars on property it owns. Commissioner Frank Moe asked if the county had some sort of agreement with the city. When told no, commissioners agreed to postpone a decision until it could discuss the golf course with the city.
The Community Education request was deferred as commissioners noted that the Community Ed office is housed at the Cook County YMCA. Commissioner Gamble said he believes it is important to create opportunities for youths, but questioned whether Community Ed was replicating activities available at the Y.
It was agreed to discuss this with Community Education staff and the Y to see if the county wold lose anything if it did not fund the Community Ed request.
Status quo for some
A number of entities met with a favorable decision regarding funding requests. All had kept their funding request the same as last year; many requests were the same for four years or more. Consensus to grant funding in the following amounts was reached for the Cook County Senior Center, $81,000; Schroeder Historical Society, $15,000; North Shore Visitation Center, $5,000; Legal Aid, $4,000; Grand Marais Playhouse, $4,000; North Shore Music Association, $3,000; WTIP, $3,000; and Volunteer Attorney, $2,500.
Some support granted for others
Five organizations received the nod for funding, but not for the full amount requested. The Cook County Historical Society requested an increase to last year’s funding of $55,000 to $62,000.
Commissioner Doo-Kirk noted that the historical society had received a “jump” in funding from $30,342 in 2010 to 2011 and she recalled that that request was supposed to be a one-time increase. She pointed out that the Gunflint Trail Historical Society had a half-million-dollar project under construction at the Chik Wauk Museum and Nature Center and they were not asking for funding. The Gunflint organization received a onetime county donation of $100,000 in 2010.
Noting the need to make budget reductions, Commissioner Jan Sivertson said she was okay with allocating less to the Cook County Historical Society, but said she was not okay with going back to $30,342. After more discussion, the board agreed to grant $40,000 to the historical society, $22,000 less than requested.
The Grand Marais Art Colony submitted a request for $20,156, a significant jump from what it had received for the last three years, $5,000. Prior to that, from 2008 to 2012, the Art Colony had received from $10,950 to $13,375.
Art Colony Director Amy Demmer had appeared at the last county board meeting with an appeal for assistance with a major rehabilitation project.
Commissioner Frank Moe said it was difficult for him to support an increase in funding for anything. He said, “The people of my district have not seen their incomes go up.”
However, he said it does appear that the Art Colony would double the money coming to the community. He suggested granting $7,000.
Commissioner Ginny Storlie noted that they are beginning a big project, but that they have reserve funds that they can use. She said she would like to support the Art Colony, but not with the full $20,156.
Commissioner Jan Sivertson stressed that the Art Colony brings people to the community year round for events that are not weather dependent. She said the value and history of the Art Colony is worth far more than $7,000. She lobbied for $10,000 but ultimately the board agreed on $7,000.
Cook County Higher Education also asked for a significant increase in support, from $10,000 this year to $35,000 in 2016. In years past county support has ranged from $9,500 to $15,000. Commissioners again agreed that they could not justify the full amount, but just how much to contribute toward Higher Ed was debated.
Commissioner Sivertson said she saw the contribution as an investment and recommended $15,000. Commissioner Storlie said she felt that was too low and suggested $20,000.
However, after more discussion, it was agreed to allocate $15,000 to Higher Ed.
The Birch Grove Foundation requested $35,000, an increase of $15,000. In 2015, the Foundation received $20,000, up from the $14,300 it had been allocated for several years. West End Commissioner Storlie noted that each of the three townships (Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder) had agreed to contribute $11,000 toward the operation of the Birch Grove Community Center. She said although many services have been added in the last year, such as pizza nights, fitness classes, computer access, and pickleball, things were up in the air with the resignation of Director Caroline Wood.
Storlie said, “I don’t know where they are at right now and what they’ll need.”
In light of the uncertainty, the board agreed to allocate $15, 000 for the Birch Grove Foundation.
The Birch Grove Community School requested $9,000 for its recreation program, an increase of $3,000. The board agreed to grant the same as last year, $6,000.
Requesting no funding for 2016 was the Violence Prevention Center, which has received a low of $7,000 in 2012 to $17,500 in 2014.
At the start of the funding discussion, Commissioner Gamble noted that the amounts awarded are in no way a reflection of the value of an organization. He said regarding discretionary funding overall, decisions need to be taken in the context of the current economic situation.
The county’s current budget requests would result in a 28 percent levy increase from 2015. Budget discussion will continue until Sept. 30, 2015 when the levy must be set. After that commissioners can decrease the levy amount, but cannot increase it.
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