Finance committee asks staff to draft rules allowing donations to community grants

The finance committee on Wednesday directed staff to produce draft language to allow private donations to the borough's community funding grant program and to consider whether the percentage of sales-tax revenue set aside for grants should change.

Chair said Wendy Anderson from the visitors department brought the donation concept to staff. Manager Emily Deetsch said the existing resolution (22-37) designates the source of community grant funding as transfers from the sales tax fund and that staff would prepare proposed amendments to accommodate donations and to revisit the allocation percentage.

Deputy Manager Rebecca Kamaka explained the staff view that a draft resolution should include how donated funds are handled and how the program's percentages would be adjusted to reflect additional revenue. Committee members noted that unspent grant funds roll over and suggested staff review five years of grant spending history (excluding pandemic-era anomalies) to set an appropriate allocation.

Assembly member Potter moved that staff return with a draft document addressing donations to the community funding grant program; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote in committee.