Committee drafts standardized application and asks for basic financial summaries from outside organizations seeking county funding

The Ashland County Finance and Economic Development Committee discussed a proposed policy and a short application form intended to standardize requests from outside organizations seeking county funding.

Committee members said the form should be simple for small nonprofits but provide the information the county board needs to assess requests. They asked staff to add a concise financial summary (balance sheet and income statement, no more than one page) and a check box indicating whether the grant request supports a mandated county service or a voluntary program.

Why it matters: Committee members said standardizing applications will help both applicants and reviewers by setting clear expectations, improving transparency about how county dollars are used and giving new board members consistent information when judging requests.

Key details

- Application content: Committee asked for a brief organizational purpose statement, a one‑page financial summary (balance sheet and income/expense summary), a list of other funding sources, and a note on whether the organization’s activities are mandated by contract, statute or not.

- Public access and confidentiality: Staff noted some private organizations decline to provide detailed financials under certain circumstances. Committee members responded that county taxpayers have a right to basic financial information when tax dollars are requested.

- Implementation: County staff will add the requested fields to the draft form, provide copies to existing grant recipients, and explore placing the form on the county website for future applicants.

Ending

Committee members said the policy should be brief and practical; staff will update the form and circulate it to applicants and the full county board for final approval.