Fearing tough financial times ahead due to the COVID-19 slowdown, McMinnville officials might not be as financially giving this year as they were last year when they provided almost $400,000 to nonprofits.
“The other thing we are going to have to address at some point in time is nonprofits,” said Alderman Everett Brock. “There may be slim pickings there, too. I know that’s sort of like a third rail and I’m risking making everybody mad.”
That statement was made during a recent meeting between the city’s Finance Committee and administrative staff to discuss COVID-19 and how it may affect the budget-setting process for upcoming fiscal year 2020-21.
Brock says some organizations are providing food to ensure no one goes hungry during the pandemic and those may receive stronger consideration.
“Meals on Wheels and people like that are really going to have a shortfall,” said Brock. “I’m not sure if some of these others will have shortfalls because they are closed down and not spending money. Things like Meals on Wheels, they are certainly going to get hit. The Senior Center is the same way. Even though they are closed, they are providing meals and have expanded their meal program. They are trying to support the Meals on Wheels program.”
For fiscal year 2019-20, the city provided:
• Chamber of Commerce $174,700
• Chamber of Commerce dues $5,500
• Citizens for Progress $10,000
• Meals on Wheels $7,500
• Sister Cities $8,500
• Main Street McMinnville $40,000
• Families in Crisis $8,000
• Caring Hearts United $7,000
• Young Men United $4,500
• Books from Birth $8,500
• Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council WCTE-TV $9,000
• Rescue Squad $5,942
• Warren County Emergency Food Bank $3,000
• Warren County Senior Center $27,000
• Kids of the Community $9,000
• The Biz Foundry $5,000
“That’s almost $400,000 right there,” said Brock, who added some items cannot be cut. “We do have some maintenance of effort things like with the library. We have some things that are mandatory like UCHRA and UCDD, those type things.”
Magness Library received $58,000, Upper Cumberland Development District $2,858, and Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency $3,000.
The city’s Finance Committee has yet to formally discuss allocation requests or any specific cuts. Fiscal year 2020-21 begins July 1.
