Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Nonprofits may get more city funding

Extra 15% in the budget

Local nonprofits of all kinds came before Durango City Council to vie for funding Tuesday evening.

City Manager Ron LeBlanc proposed spending $880,808 on all community services, up from $769,175, a 15 percent increase from last year.

The Detox Center, run by Axis Health Systems, likely will receive the greatest increase in funds.

The city and six other entities including regional towns help fund 42 percent of the Detox Center’s operating budget, said Shelly Burke, chief operating officer.

Every three years, the Detox Center re-evaluates the number of people brought to it from area law-enforcement agencies. Durango law enforcement brings in about 70 percent of the patients. As a result, the city will now be responsible for $222,318, up from $149,527.

The council also heard a case for creating a new $25,000 grant to entice businesses to make their buildings more accessible. The program would be run through the Accessible Community Team, a community board. The group would approach businesses individually to participate and grant up to $2,500 for each request, but they would focus on small projects, said Tim Kroes a board member.

“Ninety percent of accessibility could be addressed for $500 or less,” he said.

The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency, 4CORE, made an impassioned case for boosting its proposed $25,000. Executive Director Gregg Dubit acknowledged the organization fell far below its goals for signing up home owners and businesses for energy audits, but he argued the continued cuts to administration funding had made promotion difficult. The nonprofit’s treasurer and chairman argued the organization had brought in about $8 million in grants to the region to improve sustainability and earned $32,000 in additional support.

“I don’t see how we can pursue our climate goals, our sustainability goals … without an organization like 4CORE,” Councilor Dick White said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



Reader Comments