Nonprofits Trying To Do More With Less

Trying to do more with less has become the new norm, but for Stonington's outside agencies, funding cuts impact every aspect of their operations. 

Representatives from the libraries, the , the and Big Brothers Big Sisters came out to be seen and heard by members of the Board of Finance Wednesday night.

The presented its budget to the Board of Finance at the meeting. Funding requests from outside agencies are part of the Human Services Department.

In the crowded community meeting room, representatives spoke of how they are doing more with less, how they and the community are hurt be budget cuts, and supported each other in the services each offers.

When asked how they were doing, Director Lois Hiller said the library, now closed on Thursdays, also had to reduce salaries and hours.

Hiller said Stonington residents account for 44 percent of the library’s circulation usage but the town contributes only 14 percent to the library’s budget.

The Mystic & Noank Library requested $125,600 from the town for the upcoming fiscal year, a request that is nearly double the approved $65,000 budget from the 2010-2011 year. The proposed First Selectman’s budget includes 75,000 for the library.

The Westerly Public Library requested $120,000, of which $97,000 is included in the proposed budget, up from $86,810 in the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The requested $129,00, and $120,000 was proposed in the First Selectman's budget, up $5,000 from the 2010-2011 budget.

Stonington Free Library Director Margaret Victoria said the library is about $15,000 short of what it cost to repair the library during last year’s flooding.

Stonington COMO Executive Director Jim Truscio said the amount of people using the COMO’s services has increased.

“We’re trying to do the best we can with the dollars we have,” Truscio said.

The COMO requested $42,894, of which $40,501 was included in the proposed budget, which is the same amount as during the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center told a similar story, but also said the center was lucky to have recently received a donation in the form of a bus for is transportation services. Still, the center is seeing an additional need, saying they serve an average of 7,000 meals a month out of the food pantry.

The Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center requested $170,000, of which $98,000 was included in the proposed budget, which is the same amount as during the 2010-2011 year.

Members of the outside agencies will have the chance to comment on the budget with the public during the April 13 Public Hearing. At last night’s meeting they answered questions asked.

Human Services Director Beth Stewart commended all the nonprofits for the way the work together, saying the COMO has never turned a child away.

Budget Schedule

Feb. 16: General Government and Capital Improvement Projects

March 9: Board of Education

March 16: Budget Deliberations

March 23 Budget Deliberations

April 13: Public Hearing

With the exception of the public hearing all meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Stonington Police Department meeting room. While formal public comment won’t occur until the April hearing the public is welcome to attend all of the budget meetings.