Social service groups in Elgin are hopeful after hearing funding was set aside for them in the proposed city budget, but are still wary of the new grant system next year.
Last week, the City Council signed off on a revised version of the 2012 budget that would include $250,000 in human service grants, plus another $50,000 for cultural programs. Previous versions of the budget included just $150,000 for such groups.
The final budget still requires final approval, which is expected Dec. 21.
In the past, those groups were funded in specific line items in the city’s Riverboat Fund, made up of proceeds from the Grand Victoria Casino. But, officials seeking to fill a $4.5 million deficit decided to transfer more money from the Riverboat Fund to the General Fund next year, getting rid of funding for non-profit groups.
Instead, if approved, the city will enact a grant program to fund those programs.
Rose Reinert, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin, said that plan makes her nervous “because there’s so much unknown.”
“We’re going from a pretty sure sense of receiving funding…to putting us into a pool where you don’t know how many people are applying,” Reinert added. “It’s unnerving because we just don’t know.”
Last year, the city’s Riverboat Fund provided $119,000 to the Boys & Girls Club – a decrease from previous years, Reinert said. That money is used for the facility on Dundee Avenue that houses after school programs and other initiatives.
The club is also dealing with decreased funding from the state – from $90,000 to $60,000 in recent years, Reinert said.
Reinert said she was pleased to hear the funding was increased from the original proposal, but is still wondering how that money will be divided. If funds from the city are further reduced, the club will likely have to adjust their hours of operation, she said.
If the funding is cut entirely, Reinert said she isn’t sure what they’ll do.
“It’s a large piece of the puzzle to try to replace,” she said.
Most council members agreed to the new granting process, but acknowledged groups would be concerned.
Mayor Dave Kaptain pointed out the combined grants for human services and cultural funds is nearly equal to the amount of money previously spent from the Riverboat Fund. Despite other spending cuts and tax increases in the budget, Kaptain said it’s important to keep money set aside for such programs.
“As a community, we might as well fold our tent if we can’t do something like that and provide that kind of assistance,” he said.
Lynn O’Shea, chair of the Kane County Paratransit Coordinating Council, is worried the disabled and elderly could lose their only means of transportation with the new granting process.
The Ride in Kane program is no longer funded in the city budget, and instead would have to come from the human service grant pot. The program allows seniors and the disabled to call for low-cost rides, and is typically funded by $42,000 in city funds, which is then matched by a federal grant.
“We’re very disappointed about the City Council’s decision not to continue their $42,000 a year in funding. But there’s hope,” O’Shea said, referring to the grant funding.
O’Shea also said if the city does not include the ride program in their human services, they’ll also lose the federal grant.
About 1,500 people use the program – the majority are senior citizens.
City Manager Sean Stegall said the grant application, guidelines and the process will be developed in January, should the budget pass next month.
