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Topeka committee approves 2027 social service grant recommendations; sets appeals window and July 16 meeting
Summary
A Topeka City committee approved staff-recommended social service grant awards for calendar year 2027, citing higher-than-usual application scores and a seven-day appeals window; the committee also scheduled a follow-up meeting for July 16 at 3 p.m.
Councilwoman Ortiz convened the Topeka City Council social service grants committee on June 26 and the panel voted unanimously to approve staff recommendations for the 2027 social services grant awards.
Brett, a city staff member leading the review, presented a spreadsheet with applicant scores, requested amounts and suggested award figures. "The average score at the bottom should read 94 instead of 90," Brett said, noting that scores were higher this year than in past cycles. He credited applicants seeking technical assistance and support from the grant administrator "Akia Push" for improved application quality.
Brett described the formula used to compute suggested awards — multiplying each applicant's score by its requested amount — and explained how staff handled a tie among applicants listed as numbers 18 through 20. Because funds remaining after higher-ranked awards did not fully cover those tied requests, staff allocated the remainder by calculating each tied applicant's share of the remaining request amount and distributing funds proportionally, a method the committee has used in prior years.
He also told the committee that three volunteer reviewers with grant experience conducted the evaluations and that "on average those grant reviewers spent close to 50 hours each" reviewing applications.
The committee approved the recommendations by voice vote after discussion. Council Member McGee moved to approve the awards; the motion was seconded and passed 3-0.
Brett said email notifications would be sent to applicants once the results were formally approved and that applicants would have seven calendar days to submit written appeals. The committee set the appeals period logistics to take place the week of July 6 and scheduled a follow-up meeting for Thursday, July 16, at 3:00 p.m. in the same room.
The committee also approved the consent agenda, including minutes from March 19. With no further business, Councilwoman Ortiz adjourned the meeting.
