County trims funds for non-profits
Some of the 30 non-profit organizations and government entities that look to the Morgan County Commission as a funding source will experience significant cuts while others will receive level funding in fiscal 2011-12.
Funding for the non-profits was the subject of a second budget review conducted by commissioners at an adjourned meeting on Monday. In the end, appropriations stood at $881,292, or $127,023 less than what was appropriated in the prior year.
Nine of the recipients will receive level funding. Only one new appropriation was approved. Several of the recipients received cuts of as much as one-half of what they received last year.
Libraries were also on the cut list. The appropriation for William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle was reduced from $10,000 to $9,000 and libraries in Priceville, Eva, Somerville and Priceville each will receive a 10 percent cut.
Commission Chairman Ray Long said cuts to the non-profits is necessary to meet a goal of cutting $2 million from last year’s budget.
“We’ve reached $1.75 million and every department has contributed by reducing their budgets by 10 percent,” he said. “While some sacrifices are being made, we’re going to have a balanced budget that is based on conservative principles. Plus, we’re doing this without eliminating any essential functions of county government.”
The budget will have a final review Wednesday, Sept. 7, and will be considered for adoption at a regular meeting on Sept. 13.
Which organizations got cut?
Organizations that received level funding: Morgan County Economic Development Association, $200,000; Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, $50,000; North-Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments, $50,060; Pryor Field Airport Authority, $30,000; Morgan County Volunteer Fire Department; Hartselle a Airport, $15,000; Morgan County Rescue Squad, $22,500; Community Free Clinic, $25,000; and Morgan County Child Advocacy Center, $6,500.
New appropriation: $2,000 and will go to the Special Needs Accessible Playground in Hartselle.
Those receiving large cuts: Mental Health Center of North Central Alabama, from $20,000 to $10,000; Volunteer Center of Morgan County, from $7,020 to $3,910; Foster grandparents, form $15,000 to $7,500; Meals on Wheels, from $13,800 to $6,900; Red Cross, from $13,000 to $6.500;Hospitcv of the Valley, from $10,00 to $5,000 and P.A.C.T., from $5,000 to $2,500.
Library cuts: Decatur Library was reduced from $88,000 to $79,200; William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle, from $10,000 to $9,000; and libraries in Priceville, Eva, Somerville and Priceville each will receive a 10 percent cut.
Other organizations to receive cuts: Tri-County Health Department is targeted for a $46,000 cut, from $220,000 to $170,000; Soil Conservation Service, from $56,000 to $50,000; Carnegie Visual Arts Center, from $5,000 to $2,500; Princess Theatre, from $15.o00 to $7,500 and Morgan County Extension, from $50,000 to $45,000.
