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Nonprofit leaders urge the Rock County board to keep funding CASA, YWCA and community initiatives
Summary
Multiple nonprofit leaders and volunteers urged the board to maintain modest county grants for CASA, YWCA, Family Services and other community initiatives; a motion to eliminate most nonprofit funding failed, 8–20.
Dozens of community members and nonprofit leaders addressed the Rock County Board of Supervisors during the public-comment period, asking the board to continue county funding that supports child advocates, shelters and other direct services.
CASA: "The funding that CASA receives from the county is small, just $28,000 a year, about 7% of our overall budget, but it is essential to the program," said Sandy Johnson, executive director of CASA of Rock County. Johnson told the board CASA has served more than 1,500 county children and that volunteers provide detailed reports and continuity in child-welfare cases.
Other speakers echoed the plea. Stephanie DeLong, a CASA volunteer, described years of casework and volunteer hours; Roy Meyer recounted serving a youth whose case involved multiple failed placements and many professionals rotating through the case. Kelsey Hood Christiansen, president and CEO of Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, described almost 600 Rock County residents served in 2023 and cited outcome metrics she said the program tracks.
Several supervisors said they would not remove nonprofit funding this late in the budget process. Supervisor Wilson argued the modest amounts — $28,125 for CASA, $22,546 for heritage organizations, and other small grants — can matter greatly to small nonprofits and their matching-fund requirements. Supervisor Stevens said nonprofits provide care for domestic-violence survivors and other direct services that the county could not readily replicate.
A separate appeal from Supervisor Schwartz sought to cut most community-initiative nonprofit funding (item 13). The appeal was defeated on a roll call, Yes 8, No 20 (one absent). After the vote, several supervisors urged a future review of nonprofit funding policies and accountability measures, but not immediate cuts for the coming year.
Claims and contested assertions: during public comment Sheila Williams criticized county spending priorities and alleged that some county-supported nonprofits advance "controversial agendas." Those assertions were made from the public-comment podium and were not substantiated or rebutted in the hearing record.
What’s next: staff confirmed CASA funding remained in the recommended budget during the finance and budget-amendment discussions; supervisors said they would consider policy reviews on nonprofit funding and procurement processes in a later year rather than removing support at the last minute.
Ending note: the board completed the budget votes and recessed briefly to set levy limits after the public-comment and amendments phase.
