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Consideration of Recommended Human Services Funding for FY 2023-2024
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Carrboro Town Council to consider human services funding recommendations for FY2023-2024.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Housing and Community Services
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: Anne-Marie Vanaman, Interim Director, 919-918-7321 amvanaman@carrboronc.gov <mailto:amvanaman@carrboronc.gov>
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
X Race/Equity ____ Climate ____ Comprehensive Plan ____Other
Council Direction Statement
Racial Equity: A full assessment, using the Racial Equity Assessment Lens, of the Outside Agency/Human Services funding process has been completed and reviewed by the Racial Equity Commission. The assessment was conducted jointly with the Town of Chapel Hill. A summary of this assessment can be found in Attachment D.
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Information
INFORMATION: The Town Manager’s Recommended Budget for FY2023-2024 includes an appropriation of $274,000 to be distributed to local nonprofit agencies providing services to the residents of Carrboro.
The FY2023-2024 Outside Agency/Human Services application cycle received applications from nonprofit agencies, requesting a total of $474,635. The Town’s Human Services Advisory Commission reviewed the applications and held a total of five public hearings in February and March. During the hearings, the Commission heard presentations from applicants and asked questions related to performance, financial and organizational information, and current services.
Agencies funded in the prior year are also required to submit semiannual reports in January and July to Town staff who then review the reports and apprise the Commission of any performance-related issues, or significant changes in the agency, to help inform the Commission’s work. In addition, semi-annual reports are made available to the Commission upon request.
On April 20, 2023, the Human Services Commission made final recommendations to fund 43 of the agencies for a total $274,000 for FY24. Their recommendations can be found as Attachment B. Subsequently, the Town was notified in June that one agency, Art Therapy Institute, would be closing, necessitating that the Human Services Advisory Commission reallocate those funds. Final recommended funding allocations are provided in Attachment C. These recommendations include the reallocation of the Art Therapy Institute funds, reducing the total number of agencies funded from 43 to 42.
Conflict of Interest Statute for Public Officials in G.S. § 14-234.3
On April 29, 2022, Town Attorneys presented a memorandum to Mayor Seils and the Town Council regarding the conflict-of-interest statute in G.S. § 14-234.3 for public officials holding leadership positions with nonprofit entities. This statute, which took effect on January 1, 2022, prohibits public officials who also serve as directors, officers, or governing board members for nonprofits from participating “in making or administering a contract, including the award of money in the form of a grant, loan, or other appropriation” with those nonprofits that the public official is associated with.
As required per this statute, Council Members who hold leadership positions with any of the Human Services nonprofit applicants will recuse themselves from deliberation and voting on Human Services funding FY2023-2024.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: The FY2023-2024 Town Manager’s Recommended Budget includes an appropriation of $274,000 for Human Services funding.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: The Town Manager recommends that the Town Council consider approving the Human Services funding recommendations. A resolution is provided as Attachment A.
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