Nonprofit agency requests reviewed

By Gary Nelson / gnelson@crossville-chronicle.com

May 29, 2009 09:45 am

— Last week commissioners on the Cumberland County Budget Committee reviewed annual funding requests for several nonprofit agencies in Cumberland County and tentatively agreed on funding rates for the 2009-'10 fiscal year.
Some groups were removed.
"With the way things are this year I'm thinking we may need to leave them out and come back at the end of the budget and see what kind of money we have left," said 7th District Commissioner Mike Harvel.
"Yeah, that might be the way to do it this year," 8th District Commissioner Greg Maxwell said.
"We can't do that because there won't be anything left if we do it that way. I say we leave them in at the same rate. You know you have groups like the Rescue Squad that serve an important purpose and do a lot. We can't just leave them out," 4th district Commissioner David Gibson said.
"I think we should leave them in at this point," 9th District Commissioner and Budget Committee Chairman Carmin Lynch said.
"Well, I don't mean leave them out altogether. I mean just for now and then come back to them," Harvel said.
An annual request from the Fairfield Glade Fire Department of $25,000 was removed.
"It was going to be a one-time thing and then we approved it for another year to build a fire hall, another year to build another fire hall and then last year for them to buy radios for the new radio system. I don't see how we can keep them in again," Harvel said.
The others agreed.
The remaining agencies were approved at or near last year's funding rate.
Crossville Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce — requested $38,000, funded at $35,700 last year, approved at $36,100 this year.
Chamber Retire to Tennessee — funded at same rate of $7,543.
Cumberland County Rescue Squad — funded $8,670 last year, $9,000 this year.
Animal shelter funds of $30,600 were removed because the county is now operating the shelter.
Fair Park Seniors — funded at $28,560 last year, reduced to $27,132 this year.
Youth Center — $11,016 last year, this year at $11,000
Young Marines — funded the same rate of $1,200
Hilltoppers — funded at the same rate of $18,000
Kids, Inc. — funded at the same rate of $18,000
Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency — funded at the same rate of $13,020
Upper Cumberland Development District — funded at $5,831 last year, this year removed.
Tennessee Economic and Community Development planner — funded at same rate of $12,250
Veterans Affairs — $25,000 reduced to 0 because county runs office with a part-time employee, who may be increased to full-time.
Tourism Task Force general funding — funded at same rate of $30,000
Cumberland County Playhouse promotion — funded at same rate of $10,000
Homesteads Apple Festival — funded at same rate of $5,000