The sometimes controversial fee for service agreements the town has with several entities will likely be a key element of town budget discussions, as staff is recommending some of the funding be cut …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Some service contracts could be cut
Posted
Bob Burns, Times Reporter
The sometimes controversial fee for service agreements the town has with several entities will likely be a key element of town budget discussions, as staff is recommending some of the funding be cut in half, while others show no increase or decrease.
The three agencies that can expect cuts this year under Town Manager Ken Buchanan’s recommendations include the Boys & Girls Club, $80,000 to $40,000; Extended Hands Food Bank, $30,250 to $15,000; and the Fountain Hills Theater, $72,240 to $36,000.
Buchanan is recommending there be no change in funding for the Chamber of Commerce Tourism Bureau ($103,000), the JumpStartBiz business incubator ($4,500) and the Fountain Hills Sheriff’s Posse ($15,000).
The theater is in fact the only entity making a request that was smaller than what it received for the current fiscal year. They are asking for $72,000, where this year’s allocation was $72,240.
The theater has had a contract for arts and cultural services within the Community Services budget for a number of years. Town participation also includes leasing the town-owned buildings to the theater group for a nominal fee.
The food bank made a request that was equal to this year’s funding ($30,250).
Extended Hands Food Bank is a non-profit entity that has operated in Fountain Hills since 2004. The funding from the town is used for lease payments and utilities to avoid potential town conflicts with faith-related programs.
The Boys & Girls Club received $80,000 for the current year and asked for $100,000 for the upcoming year.
The Boys & Girls provides additional youth recreation services for the town and has for a number of years.
The McKee Branch in Fountain Hills is part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.
The tourism bureau has been budgeted at $103,000, the same as what was allocated for this fiscal year. The bureau had requested $125,000.
JumpStartBiz has made a request for $25,000, but staff is recommending the funding remain the same as this year at $4,500.
The Sheriff’s Posse made a request for $30,000, and staff is recommending the funding remain the same as this year, $15,000.
The budget conversation begins today, May 1, with a public open house beginning at 4:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall. The council holds a special session to begin discussions starting at 5:30 p.m.
