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Nonprofits present funding requests; commissioners press for transparency and oversight
Summary
A series of nonprofit and quasi‑governmental organizations — including WAVI, the Humane Society, Children’s Home Society and Complete Health — presented funding requests and program descriptions; commissioners pressed for financial transparency, consideration of in‑kind county support and clearer metrics tied to county dollars.
At the July 15 meeting several outside agencies presented program summaries and asked the county for continued or increased funding. Commissioners used the presentations to signal priorities for the upcoming provisional budget and to request clearer financial documentation.
Key presenters and requests - Working Against Violence (WAVI): Linda Schroll, WAVI executive director, asked the county to fund a portion of a case manager embedded at the Public Safety Building (request: approximately $47,000 to cover two‑thirds of the position) and to continue disbursing domestic/divorce fee revenues to the agency to support 24/7 services. WAVI said it is the county’s emergency shelter for domestic violence and served 2,752 survivors in 2024. - Humane Society of the Black Hills: New executive director Tammy Barrows reviewed intake volume (approximately 4,000 animals per year) and requested stepped county funding (the organization’s materials referenced prior budget conversations that moved county support from $50,000 to an interim $108,000 with a potential request up to ~$166,000). The sheriff and commissioners discussed prior contract history and oversight; commissioners asked for clearer monthly financial reporting and offered a county board seat to improve coordination. - Children’s Home Society / Child Advocacy Center: Representatives asked for a $10,000 continuation (the county previously funded the center) to support forensic interviews and family advocacy. Staff noted 347 interviews in 2024 and emphasized the center’s role in coordinating law enforcement, CPS and prosecution to avoid duplicate interviews and build evidence for prosecution. - Complete Health (federally qualified health center): CEO Tim Tranart described primary care, dental and behavioral health services for uninsured and housing‑insecure patients; county funding supports pharmacy co‑pay assistance and helps leverage federal grants. Complete Health requested continued county support so it can maintain services for people experiencing homelessness and reduce emergency room utilization.
Commissioner response and common themes: Commissioners repeatedly asked for full financial packages (pro forma budgets, audited statements and a clear line-by-line showing of how county dollars are used). Several commissioners stressed that: (1) county funding decisions should prioritize mandated or high‑value services that the county cannot cost‑effectively provide in‑house; (2) where the county already funds in‑house alternatives (for example, victims advocacy housed in the State’s Attorney or Sheriff’s Office), commissioners expect clear explanations of complementary roles; and (3) the county should seek reciprocal value (leases, cost‑sharing or reporting) when providing space or operating subsidies.
Next steps: Commissioners signaled they will weigh each request against the provisional budget realities and asked staff to include outside‑agency funding line items in budget reports for easier comparison. Several boards and agencies were asked to provide updated pro forma and monthly financials before the next budget decision point.
No immediate funding votes were taken at the July 15 meeting.
