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Committee recommends adoption of contract to use ETOS levy funding for Parks + Rec special-population programs
Summary
The Jackson County Land Use Committee voted Feb. 24 to recommend adoption of a contract with the Jackson County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled (ETOS) for $200,000 in 2025 funding to Parks + Rec special-population programs.
The Jackson County Land Use Committee voted Feb. 24 to recommend adoption of Resolution 21,864, authorizing the county executive to execute a contract with the Jackson County Board of Services for the Developmentally Disabled (now known as ETOS) to provide partial funding to Parks + Rec special-population programs.
Michelle Newman, director of Jackson County Parks + Rec, said the county's special-populations division has been a recipient of ETOS grant funds and that ETOS agreed to provide $200,000 for 2025. "The ETOS grant funds ... reimburse Jackson County Parks + Rec programs," Newman said, listing eligible expenses such as programming costs, training, facility rentals and travel; she said the ETOS contract term would run Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2025.
Committee members asked several questions about the source of the ETOS funds and whether the dollars are federal, local levy or otherwise, and raised a concern that potential federal restrictions or changes to DEI-related policies could affect grant availability. Committee discussion identified that ETOS receives funding through a local levy and that historically the levy has funded ETOS operations; a county representative said she was not aware of ETOS receiving federal funds and that the county had not been told ETOS currently faces funding interruptions. Whitney Miller of the county counselor's office said nothing legally prohibits allocating levy-derived funds to the Parks Department so long as the same processes used for any other recipient are followed.
Legislator Peyton expressed concern about potential conflicts or the stability of funding sources; committee members said they would seek further clarification on ETOS revenue sources if needed. The committee then moved and seconded a motion to recommend adoption of Resolution 21,864; a roll-call was recorded in committee discussion as "2 yeses, 1 no," and the committee recommended the resolution for adoption.
