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Agencies Worry As Escambia County Slashes Non-profit Allocations To Fund Sheriff’s Budget
March 19, 2018
When the Escambia County Commission came to a funding agreement with Sheriff David Morgan last week, several non-profits saw their funding slashed.
Beginning April 1, 2018, the BOCC will reduce budgets for discretionary outside agencies by 50 percent, except for Pathways for Change and Community Health Northwest Florida (formerly Escambia Community Clinics). In fiscal years 2019-2021, funding for outside agencies in the general fund will not exceed $734,374. These funds will be used for the implementation of the sheriff’s pay plan.
But exactly how the cuts will work, and how much each outside agency will lose this year, remains to be seen.
Escambia County Administrator Jack Brown told NorthEscambia.com that the exact methodology by which outside agencies will be cut must be hammed out by the county commission at a future meeting. They must come to a consensus on how outside agency funds will be cut by 50 percent because some have already collected more than 50 percent of their BOCC allocation.
Brown said each outside agency was warned months ago by letter than up to one-half their funding could be cut.
Agencies on the chopping block include the United Way of Escambia County, approved for $90,725 during this fiscal year, which ends September 30. United Way has not drawn any of those funds from the county.
“The amount set aside for United Way of Escambia County (UWEC) goes into our community investment process to be distributed to local agencies. A reduction means there will be less money available to award to agency programs. Additionally, many of the agencies in line for the cuts.” said Naomi Kjer, marketing manager for United Way of Escambia County.
And United Way is also worried about their 2-1-1 program that has already received 100 percent of their $25,000 allocation.
“UWEC operates 2-1-1, the free information and referral phone line that connects people in need with resources to help them. 2-1-1 also receives money from the commission. Although those funds have already been received this year, it is unclear what effect the cuts will have on future 2-1-1 operations,” said Laura P. Gilliam, president/CEO of United Way.
The commission cuts to outside funding will likely hit home for some senior citizens in Escambia County as funding for the Council on Aging in jeopardy.
“We were quite discouraged to hear that the preliminary agreement between the Sheriff and County Commission calls for a 50 percent reduction in funding to our agency. We were initially approved for $41,000, of which we have drawn down about $14,000, leaving just about $6,500 left for us, assuming we will be reduced from $41,000 to $20,500, ” said Josh Newby, marketing and communications director for the Council on Aging of West Florida”
“The question now becomes from where we will make up that $20,500 difference in our overall agency budget. At this time, we do not believe that we would have to terminate any current clients; that is always the last possible option. This shortfall does, however, hurt our ability to serve those on the waiting list, of which there are about 500 people in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. We do plan to carefully look at our budget for this year. We do expect some additional state funding this year, which should help us overcome that gap. It is unfortunate that these outside agencies are seen by some as non-critical.,” Newby said.
The Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies, know more commonly as BRACE, is also facing cuts. They were allocated $81,250 in county funds, and they have already received well over 50 percent, with $50,967.07 paid out to date.
“I have been in communication with the BRACE Board and its leadership about the possible impacts of the potential funding reduction on the public safety services offered by BRACE. As you know, our work is done in partnership with over 500 organizations and hundreds of volunteers. We work as an alliance to collectively enhance disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. In light of yesterday’s news I am seeking feedback from potentially affected partners so that I will be better positioned to share their projections with my board. I expect that I will be in a better position to project impacts after connecting with the affected partners and meeting with the BRACE board to do some brainstorming,” Greg Strader, BRACE CEO, said.
Other agencies facing cuts in their county funding include the School Readiness Coalition, Klaas Kids, the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida, the Veterans Memorial Park, the Pensacola-Escambia Development Commission, the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce and a $55,000 allocation for economic develop initiatives in Century. (A complete list with dollars amounts is below.)
Two Escambia County commissioners, Lumon May and Steven Barry, voted against the mediation agreement with Morgan.
“I support our Escambia County law enforcement wholeheartedly, as evidenced by the three percent annual pay raises for the Sheriff’s department that has been included in all five county budgets since being elected,” Barry said. “Unfortunately, the mediation agreement contains several provisions that make it impossible for me to consider supporting it moving forward. I understand the majority of my colleagues disagree, so I anticipate that the interlocal agreement containing the settlement details of this mediation agreement will come forward to the board very soon.”
Pictured top: The Council on Aging of West Florida senior dining site in Century. NorthEsambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
17 Responses to “Agencies Worry As Escambia County Slashes Non-profit Allocations To Fund Sheriff’s Budget”
Katherine. Not to worry. Just ask for the funds out of the LET from the Sheriff. Sounds like a better use of them, than being provided to the Visitor Center (Florida House I think or for the Pensacola Opera) located in DC.
For those of you who are so quick to jump of the bandwagon of cutting these programs do your research first…they are NOT all worthless or expendable. I personally have been affected in a immeasurable way by the school readiness coalition. This program funds our headstart and VPK programs, which for those who are not familiar, assists in getting our 3 and 4 year olds ready for Elementary school. This program allowed me to have a great place for my daughter to go everyday that not only taught her academically but the teachers there gave her self confidence in learning while I was was in college almost 20 years ago. I was a single mom and wanted to break the cycle of poverty in my own life. If not for this program I would not have been able to finish college, get a great job, and now give back to the community I love so much. My daughter gained a great foundation from this program that helped her excel in school. I agree there is so much shameful, wasteful spending in our county but educational programs are NOT the programs to cut.
@Patriot
Your screen name belies you. Your suggestion is to grow government (who produce NOTHING) over giving back to the community. Granted, those agencies should be strictly supervised.
@Tom B.
My apologies for not picking up on the intended sarcasm. I’ll admit, I’ve grown more than a little tired of those out there, especially politicians, who can’t live within their own means so they steal more and more from us, still borrowing like hell, and expect US to live within our ever-shrinking means.
Speaking of “need”, we NEED a Balanced Budget law that would criminalize government not passing, and implementing, a yearly budget that would at LEAST balance the budget and find other areas where we can cut spending at least 15% per year.
A good start would be to quit sending taxpayer money to “aid” other countries. If they want our help, then they can pay for it. The US has become the ATM and welfare source of the world.
We need to get more businesses/industry coming to town & paying taxes. We should be using TIF to help that purpose, not CRA.
Sedition,
I think you may have missed my bit of sarcasm. If the BOCC finds the “need” to pay these outside sources, use the gas tax we didn’t have a voice for and divide some of that money.
@Patriot
I agree totally.
I am always surprised to see the one allowed to to strong-arm employees for cash straight out of their paycheck on this list. They know who they are and will never get a dime of my money!
When did it become a function of Government to fund charities?
As I came up if there was a charity that you or the family or church felt was performing a good function then personal, private or group donations were made. Government was not a part of that.
Holy Cow, the list of these agencies with their hands out for PUBLIC money is endless and they’ll take every thin dime offered. I’m guessing there is a lot of overlap in functions and Administration over these charities. Know of one in the county where the Administrators drive Mercedes and BMW cars and “serve the poor”. Yep, likely right after they take the cream off the top.
Board of County Commissioners or Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Trust Fund to me they have no place (unless required by law) to outright fund these charity things.
Folks these are OUR TAX DOLLARS that are being spent and bet most would bow up like a strange tom cat at hearing, “OH we’ve gotta Raise Your Gasoline Taxes because the 1-2-3 charity needs money”.
And for those of you who are opposed to Socialization of our government and the liberal policies of some political groups these charities are a good example of how the public monies can be diverted.
I would like to know what some of these agencies are & what services they offer to the community. I’ve never heard of the acronym PEDC & they are receiving $550,000. Also, what services does the School readiness coalition offer? What the heck is ‘Unity in the Family’? Could it be possible that some of the services offered by one agency are duplicated at another agency?
I’ve been a LONG time contributor to the United Way and feel they are good stewards of the money they receive but I wonder about some of these other organizations.
Remember when it’s time to vote. VOTE these yahoos (BOCC) OUT!!!
@Tom B.
Instead of you deciding that the rest of us “need” to pay more in taxes, what’s stopping you and people who see the same “need” as you from trotting down to the nearest tax office and plopping down a nice big check out of your own pockets to pay for these “needs”?
What? Is it tougher to spend your own money than to reach into other people’s pockets and spend money that doesn’t belong to you?
Absolutely. Couldn’t have said it better Tom B.
Raise taxes?? Are you kidding me?? Virtually NONE of the agencies listed above perform a government mandated function. Cut them all.
Folks in this county seem to think that if an agency does “good things”, they should be funded by “my money”. WRONG. That’s why we’re broke!
It IS NOT the governments job to fund charity work.
All churches in escambia county it is time to start helping out. This would be a geat time to help the community’s out. Let’s let our light shine !!!
@Tom B.
Very well put.
I think it is time for the BOCC to raise taxes. The ugly truth is a dollar can only be stretched so far on a millage rate from the late 1980’s. Law Enforcement deserves their pay adjusted and now we see a list of agencies that rely on county handouts. Each commissioner has his “discretionary” funds, lets divide that up and give it to these agencies that are having their funding cut. We can also take .04 cents of the .06 cent gas tax and allocate towards these agencies since the .06 cent gas tax for ECAT wasn’t put to the voters to consider, just rammed down out throat.