Local budgets make room for charitable appropriations

Nobody has to tell Tammy McDaniel about the importance of local government donations.

"Without it, we would be able to give nothing but lip service," said McDaniel, executive director of the Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama.

The agency provides various programs, such as Meals on Wheels.

"If we don't have our local governments supporting it, then we have to drop people from our list and they don't get fed," McDaniel said. "With their continued support, our meal costs have gone down so we've actually been able to add some people to our list."

City and county governments traditionally dedicate a portion of their annual budgets for charitable appropriations toward what's considered a good cause.

The causes range from organizations such as the Shoals Chamber of Commerce and events such as the NCAA Division II National Championship Game.

In all, Florence, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia and Colbert and Lauderdale counties will dole out more than $12.1 million in appropriations during the current fiscal year.

More than $10.4 million of that comes from Florence, but most of that - some $9.4 million - is from sales and ad valorem taxes dedicated to the city's school system.

Most of the appropriations are connected to government operations, such as Northwest Alabama Council of Local Government programs and jointly funded programs such as Riverbend Center for Mental Health.

The remaining amount - some $486,000 - is for nongovernmental causes.

With some departments facing razor-thin budgets, difficult decisions have to be made.

"We get in a huge amount of requests each year," Tuscumbia Mayor Bill Shoemaker said. "Last year, we just had to cut a lot of the folks down or out."

The city kept in programs that are especially vital, Shoemaker said. "Things like Meals on Wheels, I feel like we need to support that. They support members of our town."

But with a city budget of only $6.8 million including salaries and operational expenses, Tuscumbia council members sometimes have to say no, just to be able to afford to provide routine city services, he said.

"All are good causes and reach out and touch people," Shoemaker said. "We only do about half of what we used to do about three years ago, but it's just a necessity."

Sometimes, all they can offer is moral support. On one occasion, Tuscumbia didn't have money to support renovations to its Little League field. Dr. Mark McIlwain, a longtime supporter of the program, put up $2,500 for the program, provided the city would match that amount. With no funds available, Shoemaker and council members raised matching money among private sources such as friends and business owners.

Other cities are more fortunate. Florence's $47 million budget includes a lot of funds for charities. In fact, it is not uncommon to see organizations come to the city council during the year to request special appropriations for various causes.

Florence's nongovernmental appropriations budget includes $25,000 set aside for just those occasions. "We have a fund for unexpected appropriations, where something comes up needing an appropriation," said Florence Council President Leland Howard.

Howard said the city, in turn, benefits from services provided by the agencies that receive the funds. "That's been a policy of the city's for a number of years, to support these local agencies."

Jenoice Bevis, Lauderdale County administrator, said there are some agencies that the county commission is required by law to fund. Riverbend is an example, getting $176,000 from local governments.

As is generally the case, the largest funding comes from the wealthiest entities. For example, Florence will give Riverbend $85,000 this year and Lauderdale will contribute $65,000.

Cities that struggle financially give smaller amounts, as much as a means of showing the entity that they appreciate the agency's importance in the community as anything. Sheffield has $1,200 set aside for Riverbend and Tuscumbia has $500. Muscle Shoals, with a better financial standing, contributes $5,000.

Bevis said there are times when the commission has to turn down requests because it's illegal to provide the organization with public funds. Many nonprofit businesses and Christmas charities are examples.

Sometimes, an appropriation is made with the intent of making money. For example, Sheffield is dedicating $12,000 toward fishing tournaments, but the tournaments bring in tourism dollars that will surpass that amount.

In addition, the city gives $1,500 toward the Division II championship game in Florence. The event fills Sheffield hotels, so, again, it's profitable.

Sheffield City Clerk Clayton Kelly said one appropriation is $8,000 for an agency the city contracts with to collect sales taxes. That agency makes money for the city, however, by collecting taxes that might otherwise have been missed.

Sheffield's appropriation list includes $33,000 toward Colbert's tourism office. But, Kelly explains, that is money that is owed to the office. "We collect 3 cents lodging tax (on the dollar) and owe them every penny," he said.

Regardless of whether a city can help a little or a lot, agency officials say they appreciate any show of support.

"They try hard to support us, and have done so," McDaniel said. "Also, the mayors have participated in the 'Mayor for Meals' every March, where they go out and deliver meals to the city residents. All of our mayors participated in that, and we got $1,000 grant because of it."

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.