Community development requests budget line items, goals and benchmarks to finalize MOU with City of Laredo

Community development staff told the board the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Laredo remains incomplete because the organization has not yet provided a line-item budget and program goals.

A staff representative said the city needs a budget broken down by categories such as salaries, office supplies and utilities and “specific goals that are consistent with LUCA’s mission and include annual benchmarks.” The representative said once the organization submits those items, the city will initiate the contract and disburse funds quarterly.

The representative described the reporting and backup documentation the city will require: invoices, payroll check stubs and bank clearances tied to expenditures. Community development staff asked the board to submit the requested budget and to state how the funds will be used by line item.

Board members asked whether an application had already been submitted; the staff representative said the contract process is separate from third-party funding rounds and reiterated that the missing budget and goals are the outstanding elements preventing finalization. The representative did not provide specific dollar amounts at the meeting.

The board agreed to prepare and email the requested budget and goals to the city contact so the city can proceed with finalizing the MOU and disbursing funds on a quarterly basis.