Tamarac City Commission Debates Charitable Contributions and Approves Caribbean Heritage Month Funding

Tamarac city officials engaged in a heated discussion during their recent meeting on August 27, 2025, regarding the vetting process for charities seeking funding. The dialogue centered around the city’s due diligence in approving charities for agenda consideration, with Finance Director Christine Cajouse clarifying that the city only verifies whether a charity is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization. She emphasized that the city does not assess the quality or reputation of the charities beyond this basic verification.

The conversation escalated when a motion was proposed to table a specific charity for further review, prompting a debate about the fairness of scrutinizing one charity while others remained unexamined. Ultimately, the motion to table failed with a vote of 3 to 2, indicating a division among the commissioners on how to handle charity approvals.

In addition to the charity discussions, the commission also addressed a resolution to ratify past purchases for the Caribbean Heritage Month celebration, totaling over $65,000. This item was met with public comments, including a disclosure about Commissioner Bolton's involvement with the charity board in question.

The meeting concluded with a call for a workshop to review all charities on the city’s list, particularly those that had been rejected in the past four years. This request highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in the city’s charitable funding processes. As Tamarac moves forward, the implications of these discussions will likely shape how the city approaches charity funding and oversight in the future.