Commissioners table $10,000 community feeding request pending nonprofit funding policy

Gadsden County commissioners voted to table a request from a local feeding ministry for $10,000 after several commissioners said the county lacks a clear policy for awarding funds to nonprofits.

The request was delivered in the meeting package by an applicant who described weekly feeding operations serving “200 to 300 people a week” and asked for $10,000 to continue distribution of food and household items. Commissioners said they value the ministry’s work but that the county must have a fair, transparent procedure before disbursing non-budgeted funds.

Commissioners raised two recurring concerns: there is no standing policy or procedures for awarding county funds to nonprofits, and several similar, non-budgeted awards had been made in prior years without a written process. Commissioner comments emphasized the need for a workshop to create guidelines and for the finance office to confirm available budget lines before approving funding.

No second was made when one commissioner moved to approve the $10,000 request, so that motion failed for lack of a second. A motion to table the request was made, seconded and carried 5-0.

The board did not deny the applicant’s request; commissioners said the applicant may reapply once the county provides a documented policy and the item can be scheduled with the required paperwork. The board directed staff to place drafting of nonprofit funding policies on a future agenda and to return with a clear package of requirements for any future requests.

Ending: The applicant’s request was tabled; commissioners instructed staff to prepare nonprofit funding procedures and to return the request to a future meeting once required documentation and budget analysis are available.