JCPC approves full funding requests for four programs, splits $10,860 surplus between Pivot Point and eMojo e Unete

The Buncombe County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council voted April 17 to accept the allocations committee’s recommendation to fund four programs at their full requested amounts for fiscal year 2025–26 and to split a remaining $10,860 surplus between Pivot Point and eMojo e Unete.

Allocations committee chair Angel presented the committee’s findings after hearing 10-minute presentations, plus five minutes for questions, from each applicant. Angel told the council the total funding available for FY2025–26 was $644,477; the proposals submitted totaled $633,617, leaving $10,860 unallocated. The committee recommended funding each applicant at the amount requested and applying the surplus to Pivot Point and eMojo e Unete.

The council approved the recommendation in a voice vote. The motion to accept the allocations recommendations was made by Commissioner/committee member Angie Gardner and seconded by Angel. Chair George Redmond confirmed a quorum was present for the vote.

The council and staff noted an earlier, separate allocation of discretionary funds had allowed Buncombe Alternatives and Aspire to purchase vehicles; that prior allocation informed the committee’s recommendation to direct the current surplus to Pivot Point and eMojo e Unete. Lorraine Williams, area consultant with the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Community Programs, explained that discretionary funds statewide must meet statutory requirements and cited limitations on use for staffing in most circumstances.

The allocations approved at the meeting covered requests from Aspire, Buncombe Alternatives, Pivot Point and the program identified in the meeting as Emojo Iyenete (name as presented at the hearing). The council’s vote will be included with the annual plan and certification that will be forwarded to the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and then to the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners during the June budget review and sign-off process.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting: the FY2025–26 funding pool available to the JCPC was $644,477; applicants’ combined requests totaled $633,617; committee recommended funding the full requested amounts and splitting the $10,860 surplus between Pivot Point and eMojo e Unete.

The council did not record a roll-call vote tally in the minutes circulated during the meeting; the allocation motion passed by voice vote.