HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0149.011 2022-2024 '
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Written Testimony on County Bill 32, April 17, 2023
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Aloha, | arnwriting to request tabling of Bill 32 until the public has g chance to review less
ambiguous language on Section 2-138.5: "Public funds shall only be used for the actual cost of
expenditures that are necessary and directly applicable tothe service oractivity covered by the
grant agn*ennmn[''.
This language has proved to be contentious in whether or not it includes administrative costs
n*|@ƒed to the program as well 8Stothe overall operation of the nonprofit organization. lFhHoe
costs are often already restricted to lower percentages than deemed healthy even in for-profit
businesses, such that small nonprofits are often barely scraping by, not operating efficiently, and
limited in their ability to maximize the impact of their service work. Amending the Section
2-13G.5text with "including administration" orsomething similar would solve this issue.
It is reasonable and fair to require a standard of"necessary and directly applicable to the
service or activity" so long as there is no ambiguity of interpretation over the inclusion of
administration costs. Those costs would also be subject to audit to ensure the standard is met
and to prevent improper use of funds. But if the verbiage on administration is not explicit and
allows future interpretation that would prevent its fundin0, harm will be done to the nonprofit
sector and byextension tothe local communities which they serve.
To accomplish the Bill's intent while still preserving the abilities of nonprofits to serve our
communities, this testimony requests that more explicit language iSadded V] the Bill, and that
the public has a chance to review and comment on it before its passing. Mahalo.
Philip Ong
Havvoi`iTreoker
Comm. N.D...