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Council hears funding requests from Zephyrhills High JROTC and SVB Tennis Foundation; council signals support and routing for invoices
Summary
Zephyrhills High School JROTC requested a small grant to cover transportation and service-learning costs; the Sarah Vandenberg Tennis Foundation requested $29,500 to expand after-school and summer-rec programming. Council praised both programs, discussed precedent for grants and asked staff to accept invoices and consider adding funds in the FY2026 budget.
Two community presenters asked the council for targeted grants to support youth programs during the Aug. 11 meeting.
Matthew Goldfarb, speaking for Zephyrhills High School JROTC, described the battalion as “140 students strong” and said his group had a budget near $35,000 but currently only had about $3,000 available; he requested city support—"anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000"—to help with transportation, competitions and service-learning projects that include grave cleanings and park cleanups. Council members expressed support and asked Mr. Goldfarb to submit an invoice; one member suggested matching the level the city provides to youth sports organizations.
Nick Walton of the Sarah Vandenberg Tennis Foundation told council his organization runs after-school and summer programs in five Zephyrhills schools and had budgeted $58,500 for city students. He asked the city for $29,500 to expand Summer Rec participation and other year-round services, noting the foundation expects to triple its investment in Summer Rec next year. Councilmembers praised the foundation’s work; one councilor asked the city manager to add $20,000 to the draft FY2026 budget to support SVB programming, and staff confirmed the usual process is to have the organization submit an invoice for consideration in the budget process.
Council members discussed precedent—how much the city typically gives to community sports and youth programs—and emphasized the need for a consistent application process. Staff and council directed presenters on invoicing and agreed to consider the requests during budget deliberations.
