Issue Settled on Funds to Aid Poor

The Community Action Center will receive $100,000 from the City of Sandy Springs in fiscal year 2012.

City Council approved the funds during, Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The amount of funds for the , two weeks ago. Most Council members had wanted to give the CAC a similar contribution to recent years of $75,000 to $100,000. to the CAC and instead donate to arts and environmental organizations.

“…In the past…we hotly debated the role of the city and the use of taxpayer funds…,” McEnerny said. “We clearly [said] we did not want organizations…to rely on us year over year. We wanted to fund grants. We wanted to fund projects.”

Councilmember Dianne Fries came up with a solution to support the CAC and other non-profits. Through a memorandum of understanding the Council will vote each year on the amount of funds for the CAC. A similar memorandum of understanding is held for the Fries said.

“It became apparent to me…it was definitely a consensus that we wanted to try to keep the Community Action Center whole from what they have gotten in years past,” she said.

Separately, Council members approved another $50,000 for other non-profit organizations. That will bring the pot for non-profit donations to $150,000 instead of the planned $120,000.

“I think it’s a creative way in which $30,000 has appeared to plug the hole in what we had available this year, which was $120,000,” McEnerny said.

The Councilwoman said she felt blindsided by Fries' proposal and would have preferred to be informed about it before the meeting.

“I just don’t want anybody in this community to think that we are giving additional assistance to this particular not-for-profit unequally to others,” McEnerny said. 

Councilman Tibby DeJulio pointed to the lack of available bank financing for the planned Sandy Springs Grand Bohemian Hotel as evidence of tough economic times, and the need to help organizations like the CAC.

“ I don’t feel we are discriminating against other non-profit organizations in Sandy Springs. We are recognizing a need because of very strenuous economic times,” he said. “We’ve got hungry people.”

John Paulson added that the city has saved money from the recent transition to new contractors.  “…To take a small amount of money and dedicate it to this group, to me, is a worthwhile effort,” he said.

The deadline for applications from organizations for the arts, education, environment and others interested in the Sandy Springs Non-Profit and Support Program has been extended to Dec. 2, 2011. Applicants should be aware that an increased emphasis is placed on the best value for the money and how the non-profit utilizes available resources. For details on the funding policy visit the City of Sandy Springs website.