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Nonprofits make funding appeals as Rawlins council advances budget work session
Summary
A dozen local nonprofits presented services and requested city support at a Rawlins budget workshop; asks ranged from several thousand dollars for Head Start food to $25,000 for a group‑home operator, and presenters warned rising costs and uncertain state funding threaten programs residents rely on.
A series of local nonprofit leaders told the Rawlins City Council at a budget workshop that rising costs and uncertain state and federal funding are squeezing services for children, seniors, victims and other vulnerable residents.
Stacy Nelson, executive director of the Children's Advocacy Project, told council members the organization conducted 286 forensic interviews last year and provides victim advocacy, trauma‑based therapy and statewide training. She said the group requested $5,500 from the city to cover higher health‑insurance and recording‑equipment costs.
John Tangestall, vice president for housing and outreach at Volunteers of America Northern Rockies, and Maddie Irvine, director of Stepping Stones, described an eight‑bed group home and crisis beds that served dozens of families; Tangestall said the provider is requesting $25,000 to support operations. Christina Lynn, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club, described after‑school and summer programming that served about 120 children last year and noted the club now contracts with the school district for transportation.
Mindy Mson Green, director of Carbon County Child Development Programs (Head Start), told the council her food program is roughly $12,000 short each year because federal Child and Adult Care Food Program reimbursements do not cover all supply costs; she said the program requested $9,000 this year (historically the program received $8,100). Carbon County Cove asked for $13,500 to maintain a safe house and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence. Carbon County Senior Services requested the same $18,000 it received last year to maintain meals, rides and activities for older residents.
Other presenters included Project REACH (early intervention and preschool services), High Country Behavioral Health (expanded local counseling and 24‑hour crisis response), the Rawlins/Carbon County Airport Board (operations and a planned self‑service fueling system), the Carbon County Economic Development Corporation and Pet Partners of Carbon County (TNR and foster placements). The Wyoming Frontier Prison asked the council to increase support from the budgeted $18,000 to $20,000 for operations and preservation; presenters said county support has declined more than 50%.
Council members and staff asked routine budget questions and confirmed the draft city budget carries placeholders for nonprofit allocations. Staff said nonprofit allocations in the draft were adjusted uniformly (about an 11% reduction in the current draft) and reminded council that the first reading of the budget is scheduled for Tuesday. The council may adjust individual nonprofit amounts during budget deliberations.
The workshop provided council members with updated program metrics and concrete funding requests for inclusion in the upcoming budget readings.
