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Council approves nonprofit funding allocations for FY25‑26 and FY26‑27 using worksheet averages after lengthy review
Summary
After receiving 12 proposals and hearing in‑person and remote applicants, the council approved funding allocations (averaged worksheet values) totaling $105,004.19 for nonprofit requests covering two fiscal years; staff will implement the payments per the approved worksheet and follow up on budget adjustments.
Finance Director Chanel Zamor presented the city’s biennial outside‑agency grant process and a list of 12 applicant organizations seeking funding for fiscal years 2025‑26 and 2026‑27. The applications totaled $121,677; current baseline allocation for nonprofits in the draft budget was $42,642. Zamor recommended a higher ceiling for discussion and suggested keeping second‑year amounts the same as year one.
Twelve organizations made brief presentations in person or by Zoom, including San Ynez Valley People Helping People, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, NatureTrack, Buellton Community Garden, San Ynez Valley Fruit & Vegetable Rescue, San Ynez High School Safe & Sober Grad Night (PTO), SYV Pride, San Ynez Valley Humane Society, Friends of the Buellton Library, Hanada‑Oak Valley PTSA, and the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Presenters described a range of services — from housing move‑in support and food distribution to school Chromebooks, library programs, youth arts and music, accessibility equipment and botanical signage.
Council members then debated whether to fund the full requests (the council briefly considered funding every request in full) or to apply a cap. No uniform pre‑meeting cap was adopted, and council members offered different allocation approaches. Staff provided an average‑based worksheet showing how each organization would be funded under a $100,000 cap; council members adjusted figures in deliberation.
By the end of the meeting the council approved funding allocations based on the averages shown in the worksheet presented at the dais, for a total of $105,004.19. The allocations cover two years (FY25‑26 and FY26‑27) at the amounts approved. Staff will post the allocation worksheet and work with each agency on invoicing and payment; a budget amendment will be prepared to reflect the approved amounts in the non‑departmental general fund budget unit.
