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Residents urge Troy to increase Troy Youth Assistance funding; council keeps current $15,000 allocation citing legal limits
Summary
Three TYA representatives appealed for a one‑time increase from $15,000 to $25,000 to support emergency food assistance for students; City Attorney Bloom advised municipal funds cannot be given for charitable purposes absent a contractual replacement of city services, so council approved the budgeted $15,000 and pledged fundraising help.
Three representatives of Troy Youth Assistance (TYA) urged Troy City Council on Nov. 10 to amend consent item J4G and increase the city’s annual support from $15,000 to $25,000 to address an immediate food‑security need among students.
"We are only asking for a $10,000 increase to $25,000 so that we can meet this emergent crisis," Carrie Brennan, co‑chair of TYA, said during public comment. Stephanie Zendler, a Troy School District trustee and TYA board member, and Walter Cook, TYA volunteer treasurer, also described rising food and housing insecurity among local students and asked the council to provide a one‑time increase to help staff volunteer coordination and district food‑bank logistics.
City Attorney Bloom told the council that municipal funds may not be used for general charitable giving. "You can't just give money, they have to actually be performing services that would otherwise be performed by City of Troy employees," Bloom said, noting that city contracts are permitted where an organization replaces a city function. Based on that guidance, council members said they lacked the legal authority to increase J4G beyond the budgeted amount.
Mayor Baker and several council members expressed sympathy and urgency about the needs described and offered alternatives: facilitating introductions to private donors, working with the county, and helping coordinate fundraising. Council member Chamberlain noted similar temporary funding provided to nonprofits during the COVID era but acknowledged the legal distinction Bloom described.
After discussion, the council moved to approve J4G as printed in the agenda packet — expending the budgeted $15,000 to Troy Youth Assistance — and the motion carried. Members pledged to use their networks and social media to help TYA find additional private support.
What TYA asked for: a one‑time increase of $10,000 to bring city funding to $25,000 for 2025‑26 to help manage increased volunteer coordination and food‑bank efforts at the Troy School District.
Council response: Approved the $15,000 budgeted payment; legal counsel said municipal funds must contract for services replacing city functions to be permissible. Council members offered to assist with private fundraising and outreach.
