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Commissioners keep nonprofit funding at prior levels, impose 20% cut for groups not joining nonprofit institute
Summary
St. Mary's County commissioners approved funding non-county nonprofit groups at last year's levels but directed a 20% cut for any organization that did not participate in the county's Nonprofit Institute, a motion the board adopted during its March 10 budget work session.
St. Mary's County commissioners voted March 10 to fund non-county nonprofit organizations at the same levels they received last year but ordered a 20% reduction for any group that did not participate in the county's Nonprofit Institute.
The decision came during a budget work session at the Chesapeake Building as the board reviewed non-county entities, the county's newly formed Nonprofit Institute and options for smaller grant programs.
Commissioner Todd Morgan moved the funding motion, saying, "I would propose that the non county entities be funded at the levels they were of last year. No additions. No subtractions. However, if the non county entity failed to participate in the, institute, then they take a 20% cut." Commissioner Daniel L. Morris seconded the motion. The board then voted in favor; the president declared the motion carried.
The board discussed reasons for the directive. Commissioners and staff said the Nonprofit Institute was intended to help local groups with training, collaboration and fundraising; several commissioners praised organizations that had already engaged with the institute and urged others to use the resource. Commissioner comments also noted alternative fundraising avenues, including the Community Foundation of Southern Maryland and endowment options.
The motion preserves the prior-year allocation amounts as the starting point for the recommended budget, while making participation in the Nonprofit Institute a condition for full funding. County staff said details on which organizations had participated would be checked against the institute's records when implementing the decision.
The board's action does not change the county's role as a pass-through administrator for state or federal grants that are administered by nonprofit partners; commissioners distinguished those grant pass-throughs from the county's local mini-grant funding.
Next steps: staff said they would use the nonprofit participation records from the Nonprofit Institute to apply the 20% adjustment if required when the recommended budget is finalized ahead of public hearings.
