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Harnett County updates nonprofit committee bylaws, tightens eligibility for county funding
Summary
County staff proposed changes to the nonprofit committee bylaws and the county—s nonprofit funding policy requiring 501(c)(3) status, restricting certain uses of funds and allowing faith-based organizations to apply only for public-serving programs. The board agreed to add the documents to next week—s consent agenda for final approval.
Chris Pelli, county staff, presented revisions to the Harnett County nonprofit committee bylaws and to the county—s policy for funding nonprofits during the Board of Commissioners work session on July 1.
Pelli said the bylaw edits are minor and mainly streamline an earlier conflict-of-interest attachment into a reference to the countywide conflict-of-interest policy. The larger changes are to the county—s funding policy: organizations must be registered as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, must serve Harnett County (funds must be spent in-county when organizations serve multiple counties), and must describe program goals and outcomes in applications. Pelli also told the board that faith-based organizations can apply for funding for social outreach and charitable services that serve the public at large, but not for general operating support.
The proposed policy lists activities that are ineligible for county nonprofit funding, including annual or capital campaigns, political activity or lobbying, programs restricted to members of a single faith or that promote specific religions, general operating support, loans or reimbursement of prior costs, direct benefit to named individuals, and subawards to third parties.
Pelli explained the procedural next steps: if the board approves the bylaws and policy and later allocates funding for nonprofits, the county—s nonprofit committee would operate under the updated rules. He described the committee—s existing composition as five volunteers appointed by the board (one per voting district), two county commissioners and county staff selected by the board; he said staff would update the amendment date when the board adopts the changes.
During discussion commissioners raised questions about committee membership and how to reconstitute the panel now that it has been inactive; Pelli said the board could appoint members and funnel funding requests to the committee for recommendations. Several commissioners emphasized the need to direct funding to youth recreation in parts of the county that currently lack programs; Pelli noted the committee could review such requests once active.
The board directed staff to add the bylaws and the nonprofit funding policy to the consent agenda for the next (voting) meeting so the board can consider final approval.
