Public money for private causes?

To the chagrin of Mayor Gary Blair, the Orange City Council has cut its funding for community groups that have relied upon it in years past.

The decision to reduce funding for key organizations came Sept. 10 during an impassioned debate over whether some of the groups should receive direct payments from the city coffers. In fact, payments for four organizations were included by name as actual line items in the general fund of Orange City’s new budget that won tentative approval earlier in the evening. 

“We’re changing the rules in the middle of the game right now,” Blair told his colleagues, as he appealed for the funding for the fast-approaching 2024-25 fiscal year.

“I will not support a motion that changes the rules,” he later added.

The change in policy came at the urging of Council Member Kellianne Marks. 

“After some of these years, you should be able to self-sustain,” she said. “It shouldn’t be taxpayers’ dollars.”

Groups affected by the action include the Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival Inc.; Everybody Is Somebody, which organizes an African American heritage celebration in February; and the Sorosis Club, which promotes events that raise money to help children. Each of these organizations was singled out in Orange City’s new budget. The Blue Spring Manatee Festival and the Sorosis Club were each due to receive $5,000 in the coming fiscal year, while Everybody Is Somebody was to receive $2,500. 

The only line-item group whose funding was left intact is University High School’s School of Government, which is set for an appropriation of $1,500 from the city. The School of Government also receives support from the DeLand and Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce. The UHS School of Government offers students in-depth instruction about government, especially at the municipal, county and state levels.

Altogether, the four line-item entities were set to be given $14,000. That number will be cut sharply, as the Blue Spring Manatee Festival Inc., the Sorosis Club and Everybody Is Somebody will each now be given $1,000. That is the cap, or the maximum amount the City Council has set for a sponsorship for a qualifying nonprofit group.

Orange City had also set aside $16,000 in sponsorships, over and above the line-item allocations. By reducing the appropriations for the three specific organizations — the Blue Spring Manatee Festival Inc., the Sorosis Club and Everybody Is Somebody — the amounts over the $1,000 per group were placed in the sponsorship fund. 

The change came over protests.

“I think it would be robbery to rip away [funding],” Council Member Lisa Stafford said. (Stafford’s sister, Sharon Stafford, is the founder of the Everybody Is Somebody festival.)

“Keep it as it is now,” Blair said, on behalf of groups expecting to receive higher amounts of funding. “Put it on a future agenda.”

Marks pressed for capping all allocations for each of the qualifying nonprofit organizations at $1,000.

“This is budget time,” she said. “Look at what we’re giving out. … We need to pay attention to taxpayers’ money.”

Others agreed.

“I’m against giving monetary funds,” Vice Mayor Alex Tiamson said, adding he favors providing “in-kind” support for the community groups instead of cash. In-kind contributions include such things as police, fire and emergency-medical personnel on standby and providing city workers for preparation and cleanup of special events. In-kind support may also include waiving fees for using city parks.

“To me, in-kind I have no problem with,” he said. “It’s not our business to give out money.”

Tiamson also suggested that the organizations needing money solicit major retailers such as Walmart and Home Depot and also the Advent Health-Fish Memorial hospital.

“Be creative,” he advised.

“Do away with the monetary,” Council Member Harold Grimm said.

Marks’ motion to remove funding for the line-item organizations — except the School of Government — and to cap all sponsorships at $1,000 was passed with a 4-2 vote. Marks, Tiamson, Grimm and Council Member Fran Darms formed the majority. Blair and Stafford dissented. Council Member Anthony Pupello was absent.

A follow-up motion to provide in-kind support for the Blue Spring Manatee Festival Inc., University High School, Everybody Is Somebody, the Sorosis Club, and the Small Business Development Program was unanimously approved.

A third related motion for Orange City to provide in-kind support for future drive-thru food distributions organized by Backpack Buddies was passed on a 4-1 vote. Blair was the lone opponent. Marks, who founded Backpack Buddies, abstained from voting because of a possible conflict of interest.

The money saved by reducing most of the sponsorship allocations will be placed in the sponsorship fund.

“This money is available to be claimed until the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, 2025,” Orange City Public Information Officer Madie McCallister said.

McCallister also heads the Sponsorship Committee. That program now has a grand total of $23,500 that the council may award to eligible nonprofit groups.

To be clear, and to summarize what may be confusing to some: Six groups are currently set to receive monetary donations totaling $6,500 from Orange City: the UHS School of Government ($1,500), the Manatee Festival ($1,000), the Sorosis Club ($1,000), Everybody Is Somebody ($1,000), the Small Business Development Program ($1,000) and Manatee Cove Elementary School ($1,000). 

The Small Business Development Program uses its funding to organize and stage a bluegrass-music festival, while Manatee Cove uses its funds to pay for gift cards and awards for teachers and staff members, as well as encouraging students who excel in education. Manatee Cove had asked for $5,000, but the Sponsorship Committee recommended $1,000. Blair urged support for the school.

“I will tell you as a teacher that morale is low,” he said.

Blair teaches at UHS.