Advisory committee splits $119,309.93 among six nonprofits; chair recuses on Martha's Home

Staff told the committee "the total budget allotment is not enough to allocate to all agency requests." Before discussion the minutes record a call for members to disclose conflicts, defined to include serving on a board of, volunteering or interning for, working for or financially supporting an applicant; the chair, JaNet Van Alstine, "stated that she will recuse herself from any funding discussions concerning Martha's Home." The scores read were Guyon Saunders 11.8, Amarillo Children's Home 10, Maverick 9.8, Salvation Army 8.4, Another Chance House 7.6 and Martha's Home 7.2. On Guyon Saunders, members cited an audit paragraph noting that management "elected to omit substantially all the disclosures," the size of the request and turnover; a motion for $45,000 gave way to $37,000. Another member moved the $20,000 Martha's Home award. ^[1]

From "the available $119,309.93" the committee approved, each with none opposed: Guyon Saunders Resource Center $37,000; Martha's Home $20,000; Maverick $20,000; the Salvation Army $17,000; Another Chance House $10,000; and Amarillo Children's Home $15,309.93. Staff said 2023-24 funding was $244,000 including the Coming Home allocation, and that total funding was "1.6 million" in 2022-23 and "1.59 million" this year. ^[1]