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Nonprofits urge North Little Rock council to restore funding after proposed cuts
Summary
Representatives for River City Ministries and the Boys & Girls Club told the council cuts would harm services for unsheltered residents and children, asking council members to consider amending the proposed 2026 budget to restore funding.
At the post-budget public hearing, representatives of several local nonprofits urged the City of North Little Rock to restore funding the organizations say is essential to serving vulnerable residents.
Alita Todd, identified in the hearing as representing River City Ministries (Speaker 14), told the council her organization provides showers, medical, dental and vision services to the city's marginalized unsheltered population and asked council members to "reconsider and to increase our dollars back" to prior levels. "We are the only ones that are providing those services," she said.
Speaker 2 and several council members discussed where additional one-time or recurring funds might be found. The proposed budget lists River City Ministries under an unsheltered-outreach account at $25,000 and Potluck at $15,000. Council staff and members acknowledged that some providers received elevated, one-time ARPA and COVID-related boost funding in past years (referenced in the hearing as 2024 levels), and that current proposals aim to balance ongoing commitments against reduced sales-tax forecasts.
Cindy DeGrama, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club (Speaker 15), said the club serves nearly 400 North Little Rock children and expressed concern about a proposed reduction in city support described in the hearing as a decrease from prior-year levels (discussed in the hearing as from $60,000 in earlier years to a proposed $20,000). "It will be a struggle," DeGrama said, adding the club plans to find ways to avoid turning children away but asked for any possible restoration of funds.
Councilmembers debated funding priorities and suggested amendments could be offered when staff presents the formal budget resolution at the next meeting. Speaker 9 and other members urged that if an extra $10,000 were available it should be added to River City Ministries because it is already operating and providing needed services; others suggested waiting until Providence Park is operational before moving funds there. Speaker 2 said she would bring the budget resolution at the next council meeting and that amendments could be made on the floor.
Next steps: nonprofit representatives asked the council to consider amendments when the budget resolution is presented at the next meeting. The hearing produced no immediate vote to restore funding; any change would require a formal amendment and vote on the council floor.
