The Unified Government Commission on Thursday night followed up a Monday night discussion to give funds to a new police foundation with a decision to wait until later.
While there was a consensus among commissioners to help fund the new Kansas City, Kan., Police Foundation, which is not established yet and does not have its 501c3 status yet, commissioners had different ideas about how to do it.
Mayor Mark Holland was in favor of taking $55,000 out of the charitable fund created by funds from Hollywood Casino and Schlitterbahn and reserving it for next year’s police foundation.
However, Commissioner Ann Murguia was in favor of taking a similar amount of funds out of the UG’s general fund and using it to fund the startup of the foundation, leaving the other money for other nonprofit organizations in the community. She said a $5,000 grant is a huge amount to a small nonprofit neighborhood or community organization.
Commissioners Gayle Townsend and Harold Johnson agreed with Commissioner Murguia. Commissioners decided to let the situation remain as it is until it considers the matter again for next year.
The UG Commission is currently evaluating proposals from community nonprofit agencies that have applied for charitable funding, with each commissioner recommending funding for agencies. The commissioners’ decisions were due Friday, but that deadline has been extended until next Wednesday.
This year, the UG has a one-time $750,000 contribution from Schlitterbahn to distribute, added to the $500,000 grant from the Hollywood Casino. Mayor Holland said all of the commission has the heart to give funds to the police foundation, and there were more funds available this year, which is why he made the suggestion of setting aside $55,000.
Commissioner Jane Philbrook said the committee on Monday “just got carried away and wanted to help them immediately.” However, the foundation did not yet have a nonprofit designation and it did not make an application for the charitable funds.
Commissioner Johnson said this will give them time to get their foundation designated a nonprofit, and they could be added in future years.