Jackson eyes $647k cut to nonprofit grants to hit $1.5M cap

The number that matters in the Town’s FY27 budget workshop packet is $1.5 million. That is the Strategic Budgeting target for combined Health and Human Services (HHS) and Community Initiatives (CI) grants, versus $2,146,962 requested by applicants. If Council holds the line, that is a $646,962 haircut to the nonprofit request stack, about 17.7% below the FY26 amended level, per the packet.

On the HHS side alone, applicants asked for $1,680,887 (up 15% from FY26). Staff’s recommended budget shows $1,205,892, a $474,995 reduction. The packet lays out multiple allocation options, including a newly created “Scenario 4” that fully funds Priority 1 returning applicants (behavioral health, childcare, violence, abuse and neglect), caps new applicants at 50% of their request, and applies a 38% cut to returning Priority 2 and 3 awards to make the math work.

CI is the smaller pot but the same issue shows up. Applicants requested $463,075; staff’s recommended target is $294,108, down $168,967 from requests. However Council chooses to slice it, the packet is a reminder that grant programs need more than a wish list. If we are going to ration services at the $1.5M ceiling, Council should be explicit about what outcomes it expects for the dollars still going out the door. See the workshop materials in the Special Town Council Meeting Agenda Packet.