Brandon Twp.- The township board approved the allocation of $36,788 in Community Development Block Grant funds at the Nov. 21 meeting.
The amount is down from the $40,875 the township received last year in the program which gives communities around the country federal funds for projects and public services. The cut continues a downward trend in CDBG funds over the last few years.
‘So many agencies are in need and now they’ve taken even more money away,? said township clerk Jeannie McCreery, who notes the number is an estimate and could be cut even further. ‘I don’t know why they did this. It’s the federal government. They’re so big they’re clueless. They don’t know what we need. We make sense when we do things locally.?
The program has had a few changes this year, including a redistribution of where funds can be used. Previously, communities could give half to public services and half to non-public services. This year, the amount able to be used for public services has decreased to 45 percent, with the remainder to be used for non-public service. Additionally, communities must give a minimum of $2500 to each public service organization they choose to give to. This has resulted in fewer agencies being given funds. Previously, for example, McCreery was able to give $1,000 to several organizations.
The CDBG allocations approved for 2006 are: $2,500 for HAVEN (an organization for battered and abused spouses, as well as victims of sexual assault); $2,500 for Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance; $2,500 for emergency services’utilities and delinquent rent; $4,000 for emergency services- food/vouchers; $2,500 for senior services- newsletter; $2,554 for transportations services (purchase of a vehicle); $2,500 for historic preservation (demolition of the shed at the Old Mill and installation of fire suppression at the Old Mill); $7,357 for Planning (a township master plan); and $10,377 to the Edna Burton Senior Center.
Funds for the senior center are considered a non-public service. Items to be purchased or installed for the center include a washer and dryer; six computer chairs; two display cases; an underground sprinkler system; bookshelves; storage cabinets; an office printer; and four scanners.
‘They’re all worthwhile organizations,? said McCreery. ‘I don’t even know if we’ll get the money we just allocated. Because the economy is so bad, the federal government could take the money and use it for the damage from the hurricanes in the south. We simply would not get those funds and they would be reallocated to rebuilding the damaged areas. If they (the funds) get released by June 2006, we’re safe.?