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Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz Signs Into Law an Ordinance Funding
Four Social Service Agencies
The following is the mayor’s letter regarding Ord. 263-18,
the $200,000 appropriation of CDBG funds for four social
service agencies (Family House, YWCA Domestic Violence
Shelter, Nexus Health Care, and Toledo Urban Federal Credit
Union).
October 19, 2018
Greetings:
After careful
consideration, I have signed Ordinance 263-18.
Both Council members and
my administration agree that whenever we have the chance to
draw down available federal dollars to meet obvious social
service needs on our community, we should do so. No one can
argue with the need to find more funding for domestic
violence prevention, affordable health care, credit-building
services and emergency housing in the City of Toledo.
But while Council and my
administration share these goals, it is equally important
that we do so in a way that is fair, consistent, and most
critically, does not jeopardize future federal funding for
these obvious needs.
After the quick passage of
the Ordinance, over the past few days, my administration has
taken steps to confirm with the Department of Housing and
Urban Administration if these organizations can receive
funding in this manner. Clarity is lacking in the ordinance
regarding the availability of funds in the account that
Council identified for these expenditures. Council also did
not identify with any specificity the eligible program
activities to be carried out by these organizations with
CDBG dollars. The administration cannot exceed the public
service activities caps for the relevant CDBG funding years.
Even with these open
questions, I signed the ordinance because I share its goals
and its spirit. But if required federal processes and
procedures were not followed, it is possible that these
worthwhile local organizations may not be able to receive
these funds – despite my signature.
No doubt, that would be a
disappointment to all of us. But regardless of the outcome
of the ordinance there is a larger issue that must be
confronted. Council members and my administration must work
together now to fully understand the federal funding
allocation process before any other decisions of this kind
are made. We cannot put all of these funds in jeopardy by
being too cavalier with the rules.
As we quickly approach the
2019-2020 CDBG funding cycle, we must take the time to
become knowledgeable of the types of eligible activities
that can receive CDBG dollars and the proper manner of
identifying eligible organizations, the different types of
federal dollars available, and the requirements and
responsibilities of organizations when they accept these
dollars. We must also become familiar with the CDBG process
regarding public participation, which includes specific
dollars for public notices and hearings. The requirement for
public engagement establishes the role of residents and
elected leadership in the decision-making process. The
Department of Neighborhood and Business Development is ready
to begin that review with you and I hope you will take it
seriously.
I am in agreement with the
goals of the ordinance, which is why I have signed it. But,
let my larger point be clear. I will not allow future
ordinances to become law if there is any risk that our
federal funding ad general fund will be in jeopardy as a
result. I hope we can use this occasion of this ordinance to
learn together the proper processes to follow. And I
sincerely hope that we are able to provide these much needed
dollars to these incredible organizations.
Sincerely
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Ed. Note – the ordinance cited by the mayor was written and
proposed by Councilman Larry Sykes who made the following
comments to The Truth afterwards: “I appreciate it – it was
the right thing for the mayor to do. I’m happy for the
people it’s going to serve – you can’t beat the mission of
these organizations.”
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