Twenty Galesburg organizations will receive various funding awards totaling $115,000 for projects, events and services in fiscal year 2024.
The Galesburg City Council on Monday approved the funding requests exactly as recommended by city administration. The final tally was 6-1, with Sixth Ward Alderperson voting no after earlier voicing disdain over providing $1,000 to Prairie Players Theater.
Applications were received from 27 organizations, requesting $247,806 in funding for a variety of projects, events and services. A total of $135,000 had been approved in the 2024 budget.
Before the vote, City Manager Eric Hanson explained the challenges of determining which applicants would receiving funding. He noted priority was given to organizations that had received funding in previous years.
“Literally everyone who requested money is a worthy requestor — they all do great things,” Hanson said. “But staff is recommending staying within budget.
“We can then reevaluate the program in future years.”
Hanson pointed out the Council already has budgeted $1.4 million in funding for agencies outside the external agency program.
“The question for Council is, how much do you want to spend?” Hanson said. “It’s not that this doesn’t do good things, but the requests are going to continue to grow.
“Based on the growth of this program, there is plenty of need in the community. Whatever the (budget) number is set, we’ll have requests exceeding that.”
Fifth Ward Alderperson Heather Acerra said the program “is all about trade-offs.”
“I consider every one of the applicants to be very valuable organizations,” Acerra said. “But I would also say let’s not forget the blessings we have in the community of other vehicles of finding funding, other than taxpayer dollars through the city.
“We are blessed to have a terrifically well-funded community foundation, we have a robust United Way program and we have a very generous community.”
In his closing comments, Mayor Peter Schwartzman pointed out the city has an $8 million budget, and the $115,000 in external funding represents about 14 cents per $100.
“As we go into strategic planning, I think it’s important for this council to look at our level of commitment to support all of these wonderful organizations,” Schwartzman said.
