A compromise on handling charitable casino funds was proposed Tuesday night in a Unified Government committee.
The UG’s Administration and Human Services Committee on Jan. 19 discussed a compromise that would allow the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation to screen and make recommendations for the applications the UG receives for charitable grants totaling nearly $500,000 from the Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway. During the past few years the UG has designated the funds for health programs in the community.
There was a call for more accountability and screening of applicants at a UG discussion about the casino grants last year. After previously using a volunteer screening committee, the UG changed last year to commissioners screening the applications. In earlier years, the screening committee made recommendations and the commissioners voted to approve or not approve the entire list of recommendations in one vote.
Commissioner Angela Markley backed a compromise of having the foundation do more screening, and then the commission would award the grants. The commission still would control who receives the grants, but would be assured that the organizations have the capacity to carry them out.
Markley said that while she didn’t feel confident that everyone would agree on this issue, she was trying to get to a compromise where everyone felt comfortable with it.
Joe Connor, assistant county administrator, told the committee that the GKCCF could work on grant development and on grant monitoring. He said it might cost the UG an additional $12,500 to $17,500 in addition to the $5,100 it is paying the GKCCF now. The foundation’s present duties include holding the grant funds, accepting the applications on their website and checking to see if the applicants are 501(c ) 3 organizations.
Additional services, if the UG wants them, might include going over the applications a little more, according to UG officials. The foundation also could, if requested, conduct due diligence, prepare written recommendations to assist the commission in selecting grant recipients, monitor the progress of grants, make site visits when required, and report on any changes in grant use or problems, according to Connor.
Commissioner Melissa Bynum did not support the method used last year of the commissioners evaluating the applications themselves and selecting the grant recipients.
“I don’t believe elected officials handing out charitable grant dollars is good policy,” she said.
If the foundation screens and makes written recommendations for the grant recipients, Bynum said she would feel better about it. She also requested the six-month reports for the existing 2015 grants, which commissioners had not yet received.
Commissioner Jane Philbrook agreed with Bynum, and said she was willing to compromise with the knowledge that there would be a professional team looking over all the applications, knowing they’ve been vetted thoroughly. Then the commission would look at the recommendations and make a decision on them.
“I trust we all have the best in mind for our community,” Philbrook said. “The concern for me was last year. I felt we didn’t know enough to make a very well-educated decision on these groups.”
Commissioner Harold Johnson asked if, based on this estimate, the individual grants would have to take a $2,000 cut? Connor replied that they would have to be lowered. The average grant was about $15,465 last year, according to UG figures.
There was no disagreement about whether to change the grant rules that recipients have to be a 501 (c ) 3 organization.
An additional grant from Schlitterbahn is expected to be brought up as a separate item to the full commission.
There was a letter sent to the commission from Schlitterbahn officials last year requesting that the bulk of the funds, about $500,000, be used for the downtown Healthy Campus project.
Commissioners noted they could end up with another $750,000 to distribute or $150,000, depending on the decisions made about that funding.
Commissioner Markley felt it would be a waste of the committee’s time to debate the issue now, since they know there will be significant differing opinions from the other five commissioners.
Plans are for the full UG Commission to take up these questions at a special session in February, perhaps Feb. 4, UG officials said.
To see earlier stories on the casino grants, visit
https://wyandotteonline.com/ug-playing-santa-claus-with-more-charitable-donations-this-year/
https://wyandotteonline.com/ug-commission-votes-to-reverse-casino-grant-for-one-recipient/
https://wyandotteonline.com/ug-commission-makes-casino-grants-to-local-agencies/