CDBG funding in contention

By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

At the regularly scheduled meeting of the San Benito City Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 5, the floor was open to public comments on the proposed substantial amendments to reallocate nearly $165,000 of its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to benefit the cause of establishing a park in the south side of San Benito.

City Manager Manuel Lara said that the proposed reallocation “is more of a change of terminology” to distribute funds which were previously approved by the Commission to be spent for Parks. Rephrasing the amendment “gives us more latitude,” he said.

Ron Rogers, President of South Texas Adult and Resource and Training (START) Center, feels differently about the reallocation. He said, “The START Center, La Posada (Providencia) and the (San Benito) Food Pantry serve urgent need in San Benito…. We think that it’s appropriate for the City to consider funding (these organizations), and fund their park out of some of their other monies.”

In an official request spearheaded by Rogers—where the START Center has united with similar San Benito nonprofits—respective entities ask the following of the City Commission: “The South Texas Adult Resource and Training Center, La Posada Providencia, and The San Benito Food Pantry hereby respectfully request the CDBG Board and the San Benito City Commission to reallocate a portion of the $164,207.77 of unused CDBG funds from 2010-2014 to our agencies.”

The total amount these organizations have requested is $60,000.

According to Lara, $164,207.77 of the City’s total CDBG funding had been previously allocated by the commission “for parks but was very specific to how the money could be used.” He added, “Many organizations went before the CDBG and submitted their requests (for funding). The START Center and Food Pantry did not. It’s unfortunate that these (requesting entities) did not apply or submit applications.”

At one point in time, the City of San Benito was receiving “over $700,000 in grants,” Lara explained. “But, now we have much (fewer) funds available to share. We’re in the same boat as many nonprofits are…experiencing the shortfalls of funds available through federal programs being distributed throughout the nation.”

The Boys & Girls Club of San Benito is one such organization that has seen a significant decrease in funds received. “We received $12,000 this year,” said Director Veronica Rodgers. “I know last year we only received $8,000 from them. I hope it (continues to) increase every year.”

Rodgers recollected a point in time when the Club received approximately $50,000 a year in CDBG funding. “That extra money made a big difference,” she said.

“Anything helps and anything counts,” said Rodgers of the $12,000 in funding received from CDGB. But she added that extra monies would “give us a push to being more financially stable and hire staff all year round.” Rodgers is the only permanent worker employed with the Boys & Girls Club at this time. She said, “What we’re trying to do is get the Club to a place where it is stable…instead of being dependent on the staff coming from Cameron County.”

“We totally agree that there are needs by many of the nonprofits that provide services to the City of San Benito,” Lara said. “We’re all having to make adjustments and run a more efficient operation. There’s no question, there are definitely less funds available for our needs…(and) it’s unfortunate that some don’t apply.”