During Monday’s budget work session, the Mitchell City Council reviewed subsidy requests from various organizations. Some of the organizations requesting city funding have seen substantial increases in reserves. Mitchell City Council Member Susan Tjarks said the city is limiting the funds those organizations will receive. “If you were able to grow your fund balance by a greater amount than what we would normally have given you, then this year, because things are tight here too, would be the year that we would back off on that,” Tjarks said during Monday’s session.
Dakota Counseling Institute asked for a 10 percent increase over what they received last year. Its cash fund balance grew by $1.9 million. Executive Director Michelle Carpenter says there are limits as to what can be done with that money, as much of it is COVID-19 relief money from various sources. “They’re very tightly earmarked for what they can used for,” Carpenter told the council. “We have until June of 2024 to use them. And it’s very stringent.”
Carpenter says their expenses have increased as well.
Dakota Counseling Institute had requested just over $26,000 from the city. The council earmarked $13,000 for DCI.