BETHEL — At last June’s Bethel town meeting voters approved $138,000 to social service agencies and nonprofits.
At a joint meeting between the full selectboard and about seven budget committee members, Bethel Town Manager Sharon Jackson proposed new procedures for these kinds of requests.
Both boards approved a motion that allows Jackson to send query letters to the agencies that received monies last year. Agencies will need to respond by Feb. 2. “It’s a great idea,” “I am all for it,” were some of the comments from budget committee members.
“You can’t just tell me in the summary what you need the money for,” said Jackson of the form/policy she will send that will ask agencies to be accountable to taxpayers.
Jackson said the town she lives in gives “not over $4,000.” In another town that she managed for 10 years, they gave $10,000. Another town didn’t give anything, she said, “There are a lot of non-profits on here [last year’s warrant] that have never been funded in other towns I have been in,” said Jackson.
Article 2 on the 2023 warrant appropriated $2,500 to Androscoggin HHC and Hospice; $4,000 to Seniorsplus/WAAA; $4,900 to Community Concepts/WBCC and $600 to sexual Assault Prevention and Responsibility.
Article 36 on the 2023 warrant appropriated monies to several agencies. The highest dollar amounts went to: Bethel Food Pantry for $25, 256.32; Bethel Library for $20, 500; Municipal Allocation for Snowmobile Grant for $30,000; and WHAT TV for $17,500. “These four have proven themselves for 30 years,” said Mike Jodrey on the budget committee.
Select Board Chair Meryl Kelly pointed out that some of the money is returned to the town from the state, lowering the actual cost to approximately $98,000.
Adding the money and then getting that money returned skews the mil rate, pointed out Jackson.
Starting in the ’90s and for three to five years, committees had to present at town meeting, said Vice Chair Michele Cole, suggesting they may want to return to that.
“Your mil rate is going to increase about a quarter [if $100,000 is given in donations]. It probably doesn’t sound much to a lot of people but to a lot of people it is … What could that $100,000 be spent on that’s needed for the waste water treatment plant, the transfer station, the highway department, actual expenses for the town,” said Jackson who suggested there be a cap on the amount allotted to social service and non-profits.
“If you decided on a cap, that’s the best way to go,” she said. The two entities decided to wait on setting a cap until letters were returned on Feb. 2.
When Selectperson Pat McCartney suggested they give people more time, Kelly said, “It’s free money we shouldn’t make it that easy.”
Budget Committee Member Ted Davis asked if there needed to be a policy to point to, if someone is denied. Jackson said no, there does not have to be a policy. Bob Everett, of the budget committee asked if there would be an appeals process.
Jackson said if an agency wanted to appeal they could go before the selectmen and ask for their request to be put on the warrant. If that failed the agency would need a signed petition with 10% of voter’s signatures (based on the last gubernatorial election) to get their request on the warrant.
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