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Nonprofits, arts groups, veterans advocates and libraries press JFC for more funding and contract escalators
Summary
During public comment at the Joint Finance Committee hearing, representatives from nonprofits, arts organizations, veterans groups and libraries urged increased or sustained funding, contract inflation adjustments, and long‑term support for programs serving children, veterans and the arts.
Dozens of in‑person and virtual public commenters addressed the Joint Finance Committee after the departmental hearings, urging additional or continued funding for nonprofit partners, arts and cultural programs, library standards funding and veterans services.
Nonprofit partners: Children and Families First CEO Kirsten Olsen and Kind 2 Kids Foundation President Caroline Jones supported the Kids Department budget request, praising contract rate renegotiations and the Hope Center pilot that provides temporary housing for intact families. DANA CEO Sheila Bravo urged the committee and agencies to include escalator clauses in nonprofit contracts so providers can keep pace with inflation and rising operating costs.
Youth programs and prevention: Representatives from Sussex Family YMCA asked the committee to sustain $1.7 million for targeted prevention programming and described teen programming that provides meals, mentorship and social supports. The Green Beret Project’s Sean Brown testified that out‑of‑school programming and summer work showed measurable impact on at‑risk youth in his neighborhood.
Arts and libraries: Multiple arts leaders—including the Delaware Arts Alliance, Elevate Vocal Arts and the Biggs Museum speakers—requested additional Division of the Arts funding (a suggested $1 million increase was noted by one witness) to support grants, workforce development for artists, apprenticeships and expanded museum and school programming. Library advocates asked for a $2.25 million increase to library standards funding to keep up with operating costs and new facilities built with recent bond and ARPA funds.
Veterans and veterans home: Multiple veterans advocates and a Commission on Veterans Affairs representative urged action to address staffing, outreach and benefits at the Delaware Veterans Home. Speakers asked the legislature to support a dedicated veterans‑affairs secretary post and to pursue federal and state funding to expand services and increase census at the home.
Why it matters: Witnesses emphasized that many state services are delivered by nonprofit contractors and that failing to provide contract escalators or recurring funding forces program cuts, staff turnover and reduced service quality. Several speakers asked the committee to treat nonprofit partners as economic and social infrastructure.
What lawmakers asked: Committee members heard anecdotes and asked department representatives to supply additional data—capacity numbers, cybersecurity remediation costs for libraries, and details on grant and aid distribution—so that the committee can weigh targeted increases.
