The policy of agreements to provide funds for nonprofit agencies will likely get more attention during the next year's budget process for the Cole County Commission.
This month, the commission approved funds for agencies through contracts since they cannot provide money through donations.
The commission has done this for several years, citing state law allowing for this to take place.
Under Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 205.580.1, county health and welfare programs, which allows them to do this, states, "Poor persons shall be relieved, maintained and supported by the county of which they are inhabitants." This law dates back to 1909.
Any agency may ask to make a presentation to the three-member commission, which then reviews the contracts during budget time. With some exceptions, most agreements do not require additional or specific services beyond what the agency routinely provides.
The commission has also provided money for economic development programs through contracts.
County officials said they are allowed to do this under Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 67.303.1, political subdivisions and miscellaneous powers. It states, "The county commission of any county may engage in activities designed for the purpose of promoting and developing economic growth within its county. The county commission of any such county may contract with any political subdivision, firm, corporation, association or person for the purposes of implementing the provisions of this section." This law dates back to 1988.
"It is fairly common among counties in Missouri to provide funds to nonprofit entities in the community where the county and its citizens receive some value or benefit in return," said Missouri Association of Counties Executive Director Dick Burke.
Records dating back to 1997 show the Cole County Commission has gone from giving $165,591 in a year for nonprofits and economic development to $324,821 in 2014.
The 2015 budget calls for $337,321 to be paid out.
"If it was a good organization and it helped out the people of the county, or would keep a program alive, we supported it," said former Eastern District Commissioner Mike "Pee Wee" Forck, who served 14 years on the commission from 1995 through 2008. "We thought it was a good deal to do. We didn't throw money at everything. We looked at what they did with the money after they got it from us. There are some very good programs. Each commissioner had a special group, but all in all it was a decision of the total commission."
"I do not support the general welfare portion of the budget," said Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle. "I do support things like Salute to America and some others that are more economic development. All of the not-for-profit groups are good organizations, but I don't think it is government's role to use tax dollars to fund these groups, and I tried to limit these funds. I propose to eliminate completely or to cap the amount of funds we distribute. Besides the ones that were approved, we also support the Cole County Extension at $97,000."
Scheperle voted no on the majority of the groups, but he did vote yes on funding for the Salute to America and the Cole County Historical Society.
Those agencies the commission has approved funds for in the 2015 budget are:
• Homemaker Services, $7,500;
• ABLE Learning Center, $3,500;
• Senior Nutrition Center, $10,000;
• Habitat for Humanity, $10,000;
• CrimeStoppers, $2,000;
• Cole County Historical Society, $7,000;
• Central Missouri Foster Care, $5,000.
The commission also approved $10,000 for Salute to America as an economic development project. The commissioners are to hear a report from the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce later this year, and at that time could approve funding for them, which the past several years has been $150,000. There is also the possibility they could help fund Downtown Jefferson City's Thursday Night Live and the Downtown Jefferson City Hot Bike Tour, which they have funded in the past as economic development projects.
"I can say I do not wholeheartedly support the practice," said Eastern District Commissioner Jeff Hoelscher. "Although I do have reservations about it, I do see the benefit of the county supporting programs that provide services to strengthen our families and community. I see them more as an economic development tool than a public welfare program. Personally, I want to keep the maximum per individual program limited to $5,000. Mysteriously, we have not had everyone and their brother come to us asking for a contribution, but it could happen and I think that adds more merit to having a policy on a maximum amount in that fund. With the state statute that supports the funding, I have not gone as far as to say we should cut the programs completely."
"I see it both ways," said Cole County Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman. "Some groups like CrimeStoppers, to me, are deserving, but Salute to America, that's economic development. Anything that brings 50-60,000 people into Jefferson City we should support. Next year's budget we'll do some serious soul searching and discuss what to do. We could put caps on amounts, but you can't say anything bad about places such as Habitat for Humanity and the ABLE Learning Center and what they do for our community."