Should Nonprofits Have a Place in Bethel's Budget?

Should a portion of Bethel's 2013-14 budget include funds for "non-governmental organizations" -- nonprofits like Meals on Wheels, Ability Beyond Disability and the Women's Center of Greater Danbury -- that do good works for the people of Bethel?

First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker thinks so. He pushed for $17,883 in his budget proposal to the Board of Finance this year -- a number the board considered reducing to $6,750 before voting to recommend defunding the line entirely.

"It really baffles me this has come up again and they've failed to fund it," said Knickerbocker. "It certainly wasn't done because the town can't afford it ... But some members of the Board of Finance believe money shouldn't be given to nonprofits."

Board of Finance chair William Kingston voted to cut funding. He tells Patch he has been "giving some thought" to a way to provide for nonprofits without including a figure in the budget.

"I'm looking for alternatives that would both raise the money and maintain the voluntary nature of contributions," he said.

Kingston acknowledged there isn't "a lot of common ground" on the issue, which has proved controversial in the past. Finance board members pulled funds from the line two years ago, and several were later voted out.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens this year," said Knickerbocker. After the election, non-governmental organizations were funded in the 2012-13 budget at $28,838. (For more comparisons and dollar amounts for the town's budgets, see Patch's infographic analysis.)

"My objection is the coercion factor, not that they're not doing a good job or that Bethel shouldn't support them," said Kingston. "But having the coercive power of government to take this money and give it to a charity -- it doesn't sit well with me."

Officials heard from citizens at a Tuesday night public meeting. Kingston said the Board of Finance will take the opinions from that hearing into account in future deliberations.

"I thought it was an interesting hearing, and I did enjoy hearing what people had to say about the budget," he said, adding, "It was pretty hard to hammer it out."

The board will reapproach the budget at an April 22 meeting. The recommended sum is $67,013,616, with $26,124,905 on the town side.