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Resident urges Vernon council to boost funding for human-service agencies
Summary
Michael Schmidt told the council during public comment that last year the town funded $24,000 of $253,000 requested by local charities and urged an approximately $50,000 increase in this year’s town budget to meet agency requests and support vulnerable families.
Michael Schmidt, a Vernon resident, told the town council during the public comment period that local charities have seen worsening demand and that the council should increase allocations in the coming budget.
"Only $24,000 were spent towards charities out of their requested $253,000," Schmidt said, and he cited a small increase for Haken Valley Community Council of $1,500 on an $18,000 request. He told the council that a roughly $50,000 additional allocation would amount to about 0.04% of the town's total budget, based on his calculations, and urged Mayor Daniel A. Champagne and council members to meet agencies' requests to help families and children facing food and housing insecurity.
Council members thanked Schmidt for providing data and asked whether he could submit his materials for the town record. A member of the Human Services Commission said the commission performs a "thorough look" at grant applicants and will consider his suggestions at its next meeting.
The exchange was strictly a public comment; the council did not take a budget vote at the meeting. Councilors noted the town's budget schedule, with budget books expected by March 15, and signaled that staff and the Human Services Commission would review requests in advance of formal budget deliberations.
