Okaloosa plans to reduce contributions to nonprofits

Several social service agencies could be looking at their final year of funding from Okaloosa County as officials grapple with plummeting property tax revenues.

“I think that’s absolutely a possibility,” County Administrator Jim Curry said. “The reality is with the revenues continuing to decline so significantly, those are the very first agencies you have to look at in terms of reduction.”

The county’s proposed 2011 budget includes a 10 percent cut in funding for a long list of local nonprofit groups, including Shelter House, the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, the Baker Block Museum, Elder Services and Day Care Services.

“Quite honestly, I was thrilled to death that it was just a 10 percent cut and not a total elimination,” said Kathy Marler Blue, associate director of the Destin History and Fishing Museum, which is slated to receive $14,400 from the county in 2011. “We would have been in a world of hurt.”

Blue, who plans to attend the two public hearings on the county’s 2011 budget Sept. 9 and Sept. 21, doesn’t expect the proposed cuts to force the museum to cut its hours.

“We will make due somehow,” she added. “We have lot of additional fundraisers that we’re working on.”

The Baker Block Museum’s reduced allocation also is $14,400. The Heritage Museum is slated to receive $46,567, which includes the director’s salary and benefits.

Cuts have been the norm for most of those nonprofits for the past several years as the county’s property tax revenue has dropped.

Like Blue, many agency directors are preparing to rely even more heavily on the public for donations and other assistance.

“You go out and you beg from everyone you know,” said Ruth Lovejoy, executive director of Elder Services, which would receive $26,325 under the proposed budget. “We will not cut back, I will tell you that. How do you say to someone who is not physically able or does not have the vision to prepare a meal, ‘Oh, gee whiz, we’re going to put you on a waiting list.’ ”

Lovejoy said she was not surprised that county officials have proposed the cuts.

“It has to be that the tax base is smaller than it was before,” she said. “They’re having to face a lot of very difficult decisions.”

The dwindling funds have forced many local agencies to take a second look at their expenses.

At Shelter House, which serves victims of domestic violence, executive director Michelle Sperzel “put together a conservative budget” in the face of local cuts and anticipated reductions in state money next year.

That county has allocated Shelter House $8,100 in its 2011 budget.

“We’re really looking at restructuring our organization to make small cuts here and there to be more efficient and effective,” said Sperzel, who added that Shelter House plans to set up an annual giving campaign.

Okaloosa County Head Start is slated to receive $8,000. Director Janet Clark said her agency doesn’t expect dramatic changes because of the funding cuts, but added that Head Start must look for other ways to meet its required 20 percent match for all federal funds.

“It just makes us have to go out and find other services to help us with our match,” she said. “We’re grateful for whatever (the county) gives us.”

Other nonprofits included in the 10 percent cuts are the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, which would receive $139,968, and the Okaloosa Island Fire District, which would get $36,000.