Sequim council reviews formal rules, reporting and 1.5% cap for municipal funding program

Staff presented a revised municipal funding program and related application, reporting and scheduling rules at the June 12 meeting and asked for council direction on several items including the program cap, application deadlines and whether award decisions should continue to be made by full council.

What staff proposed: Marin Packer, executive assistant and program lead, told council the recommended process would move the municipal funding review earlier in the budget cycle so requests are evaluated before the finance director finalizes the budget book. "We are proposing that rather than in September when finance delivers the budget book to council, that the municipal funding request review happen in June," Marin said. The updated guidelines add standardized, short applications, require an annual report on a city template with expense documentation, and propose three funding terms: one-time awards (for amounts under $10,000), one-year awards paid…