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Family Crisis Center asks Alpine council for more funding to expand TRACS transport and victim services
Summary
At a budget workshop, Virginia Sandoval of the Family Crisis Center asked the Alpine City Council to increase the city’s grant to support an expanded TRACS transportation program and additional victim‑service staff serving Alpine and surrounding counties. Councilors requested follow-up details and monthly reporting before any appropriation.
Virginia Sandoval, program director for the Family Crisis Center, told the Alpine City Council at a budget workshop that the nonprofit has expanded services and needs increased city support.
Sandoval said the center has “8 advocates” and that it now operates TRACS transportation and victim‑services across multiple counties. She said the center provides victim advocacy, legal advocacy, financial assistance and emergency shelter, and that the TRACS program provides rides for medical appointments to communities as far as El Paso, Midland and Odessa.
The request prompted council questions about how the program is funded and who else contributes. Council member Martinez asked what increase would be helpful; Sandoval said the center was seeking an increase and at one point said, “we were hoping to $1,515,000,” and elsewhere said “we’re kinda hoping to 15.” The transcript on the precise dollar figure is inconsistent; the exact amount requested in writing was not specified during the workshop.
Sandoval described TRACS as a scheduled service that residents call in advance, typically running Monday through Friday, and said fares are scaled by distance (the center’s brochure lists a 31–50 mile round trip at $8.25). She said the center’s transportation covers Brewster, Presidio, Jeff Davis, Culberson and Hudspeth counties and that the program sometimes takes clients to Fort Stockton and El Paso for specialized appointments.
Councilors pressed Sandoval for details about other public funding. Several members asked staff to determine whether counties or the hospital district provide support; Sandoval said she did not have that information on hand. Councilors asked staff to obtain and circulate information and to provide monthly reports on the center’s finances and program activity.
Council members also discussed existing local subsidies for the Family Crisis Center, including revenue from the center’s thrift store and private donations. Sandoval said thrift‑store revenue helps subsidize services but has decreased recently as the program has added staff and services.
The workshop was a discussion; no city appropriation or vote occurred. Councilors asked staff to follow up with written fiscal details from the Family Crisis Center and to report back to the council by email and in monthly reports so the council can consider a funding change during the formal budget process.
