Kodiak City Council Okays Nonprofit Funding

Kayla Desroches/KMXT

The Kodiak City Council finalized its nonprofit funding at its regular meeting Thursday.

City Manager Aimée Kniaziowski said the council goes through the process every year according to a long-term policy that it’s adjusted several times in the past.

“The policy resolution states that the city will set aside for nonprofit grants in a given fiscal year the maximum of 1 percent of the budgeted general fund revenues exclusive of any fund balance appropriation, so that’s how that’s calculated.”

She said this year the total amount was $184,500 and the requested funds from the 20 applicants added up to a little more than $177,000, which leaves over just over $7,200 available.

Councilman John Whiddon moved to modify the resolution by withholding $10,000 from the Kodiak Maritime Museum for the installation of the historic fishing vessel Thelma C in the harbor area downtown.

“What I’m specifically asking is not  to withhold the money permanently, but just to get a budget in front of us that says they have the funds necessary based on the budget installation costs and show where our $10,000 fits in so that we can be assured there’s no short fall and / or the city potentially would not be on the hook for any shortfall that might arise if the grants funds that they’re counting on don’t come through.”

He said it’s important the council doesn’t commit to a project without that additional information.

Councilman Charlie Davidson disagreed and said foundations that fund nonprofits are looking for the evidence of investment from local government as part of granting criteria.

“If we withhold this money and they’re trying to raise money by showing these foundations that the city is also behind this, I don’t know how they would advance and say, well, the city’s holding this money until we present it a budget that we don’t what it’s going to be yet because we don’t have the total revenue, but this is just a path to gaining it.”

The motion to withhold the funds failed, but the main motion passed with all councilmembers voting yes.

In the interest of full disclosure, Kodiak Public Broadcasting Corporation does receive funding from the city.