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Strafford County delegation says CFA grant will cover warming center costs; no property-tax ask planned
Summary
Commissioners reported the county-run warming center has been operating 24/7 since December, straining staff. The delegation said it plans to use an approximately $140,000 CFA grant to offset ongoing vendor costs and does not intend to seek property-tax increases for the expense at this time.
The Strafford County delegation discussed an extended 24/7 operation at a local warming center and said the county will draw on a Community Facilities/Aid (CFA) grant of about $140,000 to cover additional vendor costs rather than seek money from property taxpayers.
A commissioner told the delegation the shelter "has been activated" and has been operating around the clock since December, with "50, 60 people in there all the time," creating staff burnout and a likely need for extra pay to keep operations running as cold weather continues. "Our plan right now is to use that money to offset any additional costs that we may incur with the vendor," the commissioner said, adding, "it shouldn't cost the property tax. We're not going to go back and ask the property taxpayers for any money." The commissioner also cautioned that the initial budget assumptions had changed due to the ongoing demand and said a supplemental appropriation remains possible if circumstances worsen.
The comment followed discussion about staffing pressures: a speaker said facility staff were experiencing fatigue from long shifts, and another noted the forecast of continued cold weather could extend the center's 24/7 operations. The delegation asked staff to relay the funding plan to shelter operators and monitor whether remaining CFA funds can be partially returned if demand eases.
The report provided no detailed line-item budget or vendor contract numbers; the transcript records an approximate CFA figure of $140,000 and a statement by the delegation that it would attempt to avoid a property-tax request. The delegation did not take a formal vote on a supplemental appropriation during the session; the update was informational and procedural.
The delegation did not specify the vendor name, the total annual operating cost of the shelter, or how long the CFA funds will cover current needs. Commissioners said they would continue to monitor staffing, costs and weather and report back if the funding situation changes.
