Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

CC:

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

Brandon McGuire, Assistant to the City Manager

FROM:

Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager

DATE:

May 18, 2015

RE:

Outside Funding Requests

 

Staff seeks direction from the City Commission on how to process requests for city funding from outside groups for the 2016 City Budget. 

 

Background

The City receives applications for funding each year from a number of outside groups – social service agencies, economic development agencies, and agencies that provide vendor services.  In addition, the City receives requests from other agencies (i.e. the Lawrence Public Library, Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Lawrence Douglas County Health Department, Cultural Arts Commission, Sister Cities Advisory Board, etc.) that are typically considered as part of the budget process. 

 

Over the years, these requests have been handled differently.  Additional information about each group is provided below.    

 

Social Service Agencies.  The City receives requests for funding from agencies that provide social services in the community.  Ordinance 8501, adopted in 2010, established the Social Service Funding Advisory Board (SSFAB) to review these requests and make recommendations to the City Commission for the use of city funds from the General Operating Fund, Special Alcohol Fund, and Housing Trust Fund. 

 

Special Alcohol Fund.  Ordinance 8501 requires the SSFAB to use the criteria outlined in Charter Ordinance No. 33, which requires funds be used to address prevention, treatment, intervention, law enforcement, or education related to alcohol and drug abuse.  These criteria are used on the application for funding used by agencies requesting Special Alcohol funds.

 

General Operating Fund.  The application for social service funding from the General Operating Fund has changed several times since 2010.  In 2014, the SSFAB recommended and the City Commission approved incorporating the Community Health Plan into the application for social service funding.  The application now asks agencies how their funding request aligns with one or more of the five priorities identified in the plan:        

·         Access to healthy foods;

·         Access to health services;

·         Mental health;

·         Physical activity; and/or

·         Poverty and jobs.

 

After reviewing the applications, the SSFAB meets to deliberate and develop their recommendations for funding which are forwarded to the City Commission.  In 2014, the recommendations were presented to the Commission at a study session.  These recommendations are also included in the City Manager’s Recommended Budget.  The Commission ultimately decides the funding allocations for these agencies when the budget is adopted. 

 

Economic Development Agencies.  The City also receives requests from agencies that work to support economic development.  There is no advisory board to review the applications of these agencies.  Instead, the City Manager reviews these applications and includes recommendations for funding as part of the recommended budget.  These applications are also included on a study session agenda.  The Commission makes the final decision on allocations when the budget is adopted. 

 

Vendor Service Agencies.  A number of years ago, it was decided that vendors that the City uses to provide services the City would otherwise have to provide (i.e. animal shelter services for enforcement of the City’s animal control ordinances and indigent defense services for defendants in Municipal Court) should not compete for funding with social service agencies.  Over time, the City Commission also designated the Lawrence Arts Center and the Lawrence Community Shelter as vendor service agencies.  Funding requests made by these agencies are not reviewing the SSFAB.  These requests are included on a study session agenda and the City Manager includes recommendations for funding as part of the recommended budget.  The City Commission decides the funding allocation for these agencies when adopting the budget. 

 

City Advisory Boards.  There are several City Advisory Boards that request funding each year.  Funding for these boards comes from a number of different City Funds.  For instance, the Sister Cities Advisory Board receives funding from the Transient Guest Tax Fund while the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission receives funding the Special Recreation Fund.  These requests are reviewed by the City Manager and included in the recommended budget.  The City Commission decides funding allocations for these boards when adopting the budget.

 

Other Agencies.  In addition to the agencies mentioned above, there are several others that make annual requests for funding.  These requests are usually placed on a study session agenda for discussion and the City Manager includes recommendations for funding levels in the recommended budget.  The City Commission decides the final allocation when the budget is adopted.      

Destination Management / Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB).  Funding for the CVB is included in the budget for the City’s Transient Guest Tax Fund.  

Lawrence Public Library.  The Lawrence Public Library, which receives more than 90% of its operating budget from a City property tax levy, is included in the budget for the City’s Library Fund. 

Lawrence Douglas County Health Department.  Under an agreement with Douglas County, the City provides 40% of the operating budget for the Health Department.  This funding is included in the General Operating Fund budget in the Health Department/ Health Building Maintenance Division. 

 

 

Action Requested

Staff seeks direction from the City Commission on how to process requests for city funding from outside groups for the 2016 City Budget.