Commission split over proposed 30% cut to discretionary nonprofit funding; staff asked to engage DDA on festival program
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Summary
Administration proposed a 30% reduction for discretionary NGO funding and 10% for authorities; commissioners debated fairness and reporting, asked staff to contact the Downtown Development Authority about taking over a $50,000 festival/events program, and did not achieve consensus on the broader NGO cuts.
Administrator Allen proposed a package that would reduce discretionary nongovernmental organization (NGO) funding by 30% and impose a 10% reduction on authorities and other non‑discretionary agencies, yielding projected general‑fund savings of about $873,940.
The package also noted Destination Augusta intends to stop administering a $50,000 festival-and-events grant; Allen asked whether the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) or another partner could assume that administrative role. Commissioners quickly favored outreach to the DDA and asked staff to pursue that option.
Commissioners raised several procedural and equity concerns about across‑the‑board percentage cuts. Commissioner Stacy Pulliam pointed out award sizes vary widely (e.g., some organizations get around $24,390 while others receive six‑figure allocations), so a flat percentage cut affects organizations differently. Commissioner Jordan Johnson and others asked who receives reports, audits and KPIs from funded organizations; administration said finance has been collecting required reports and that staff previously provided a binder of NGO agreements and past materials, but commissioners requested clearer, consolidated KPI reports and recommendations tied to mission priorities.
Commissioner Don Clark suggested moving municipally owned assets (for example, the Augusta Museum of History and certain library buildings) from discretionary to mandated funding categories because the city owns the buildings; administration said it could reclassify those line items if the body directs it. Commissioners did not reach consensus on the 30%/10% proposal and the item will return for further analysis and proposed policy options.
Next steps: staff will contact the DDA about managing the $50,000 festival/events program, provide detailed KPI and contract information on NGO recipients, and return with alternative percentage or targeted reduction scenarios.
