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City changes policy for nonprofit contributions
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In an effort to make budget deliberations easier — particularly nonprofit contributions — the City of McMinnville’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen opted to set a ceiling on how much revenue will be earmarked for donations to nonprofit groups in this year’s budget.

During last month’s meeting, City Accountant Samantha Moore introduced a recommendation provided by MTAS (Municipal Technical Advisory Service) during last month’s meeting which suggested capping nonprofit funding to equal 3% of property tax revenue. At the time, the matter was not voted on until Tuesday night when it returned for consideration.

As an example, Moore explained the average tax bill in the city would contribute an estimated $26.31 to nonprofit awards if the 3% model was adopted as policy. If the city elected to allot 4%, the number would become $35.08 and 5% would be $43.85.

The amount of funding awarded to nonprofits has been different each year and often fluctuates. It was as high as 8% of property tax revenue several years ago, but has steadily trended lower each year since. During the current year’s budget, the city elected to allot 4.74% to nonprofits, which is almost half of the 7.56% from 2022.

Included in nonprofit appropriations are some constant recipients, such as the money awarded to Magness Library as a maintenance of effort, Chamber of Commerce dues and the population-based amount given to Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) and Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD). According to Moore’s calculations, these contributions alone account for about half of the prospective 3% set aside with the policy suggested by MTAS, leaving the other half for all other nonprofits the city may have choose to award money.

“I read somewhere in our information that said property tax is one of our biggest revenues, but that’s no longer true with us, is it?” Vice Mayor Steve Harvey asked.

Moore indicated property tax revenue has been exceeded by the combined Local Option and the Local Option Agreement.

With 3%, the city would have $170,000 to split between nonprofits and it would be the lowest amount ever attributed for this purpose. Moore provided other examples of attributions, such as 4% and 5%; with the contribution set at 4%, $230,000 would be available for the 2025-26 fiscal year budget and 5% would be approximately $285,000.

“I can tell you this, it’s a lot easier to do this now and get a limit and then decide where it goes than it is at budget time when they’re turning in their papers,” Harvey said. “It’s hard to do at that point.”

The new application, which will be launching for this year’s budget season, helps nonprofits better understand if they meet the criteria outlined in the document. It indicates a nonprofit is not eligible for funding if it is not a 501©(3), 501©(4) or 501©(6), and outlines all applicants must be able to prove they have nonprofit registration, are not a United Way-funded agency or a recipient of other financial assistance from the city.

Alderman Rachel Kirby floated the idea of a 3% contribution, but the board ultimately moved forward with a 4% ceiling on nonprofit donations at Mayor Ryle Chastain’s suggestion. Alderman Keri Morton motioned to approve the 4% ceiling and Alderman Kara Youngblood seconded, all members of the board were in favor.

“It’s still three-quarters of% less and still reduces our obligation, but isn’t as severe,” Chastain said.

Fiscal Year 2024-25 Nonprofit Appropriations • McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce — $71,000 in addition to $5,500 in dues • Main Street McMinnville — $35,000 • Black History Museum of Warren County — $9,500 • Families in Crisis — $8,000 • Warren County Rescue Squad — $7,425 • Magness Library — $68,000 (maintenance of effort), $25,000 (one-time donation to be used as a bonus for faculty) • Tourism Development Board — $169,793 • Young Men United — $5,000 • Homeless of McMinnville Effort (HOME) — $20,600 • Warren County Senior Citizens Center — $30,000 • McMinnville Special Games — $4,750 • Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) — $2,800 • Upper Cumberland Development District (UCDD) — $2,800

WCACAC talks about euthanasia
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During the regularly scheduled Warren County Health and Welfare Committee meeting on Tuesday, the topic of behavioral euthanasia at Warren County Animal Control and Adoption Center was one of the primary points of discussion.

Although WCACAC does not euthanize animals to create space in its facility, there are some situations, according to staff and the committee, when animals’ wellbeing or quality of life come into question due to factors outside the shelter’s control.

The employee chosen to receive certification to perform euthanasia will be required to submit their TBI background check and an application with a passport photo to begin the process for certification. Their background check and application then go to the Tennessee Veterinary Board and once approved, the employee will be set up for their first day of online classes before having to attend an in-person course which is typically held in Nashville or Murfreesboro.

Previously, behavior euthanasia was performed by vets, but they have largely refused to conduct them in recent years due to the emotional toll it bears. This leaves the shelter with the onus, if the county is to continue euthanizing animals who display extreme aggression.

Health and Welfare Committee Chair Blaine Wilcher asked how many dogs have currently been marked for aggression and the employees indicated there was a handful, all of which had been at the shelter for over two years and were aggressive enough to have bitten employees and trusty inmates during routine procedures such as cleaning cages. Due to liability concerns, these dogs are unadoptable.

According to staff, it is believed the extended stay in the cages has caused the dogs’ mental health to decline, leading them to become aggressive.

“It’s a shame, but they’re basically in prison at this point, without parole,” Blaine said.

Jeff Tubb, who is the Document Controller for WCACAC, indicated he had done hours of his own research trying to find answers or cures for the dogs.

“When you’ve got animals that have been in there for two years, it’s like putting somebody in solitary confinement,” Tubb said. “Even a human will go crazy. The same thing has happened to these animals.”

Beyond the matter of becoming certified to perform euthanasia in extreme situations like this one, the committee discussed baseline criteria to guide the facility on when behavioral euthanasia is necessary and whose call was final word.

“I just want to know who’s picking and choosing the criteria of when an animal needs to be euthanized. Would that be Brandi?” County Commissioner Kasey Owens asked.

Wilcher replied, “I would say she would probably have the main say because she would know more about it than anyone as far as how long the animal has been there, if they are aggressive and other details. I would think she would be the final stamp, wouldn’t she?”

County Commissioner Terry Bell admitted it was something they were still trying to determine and suggested perhaps the committee be the ones to discuss and decide on an animal-by-animal basis.

“No, I don’t agree with that, and I’m going to tell you why,” Owens said. “We don’t have the experience, and it is not our area of expertise to be doing that.”

Bell expressed reluctance to place it squarely on the employees of the shelter, as the task is a difficult one, especially for those who may have forged bonds with the animals while caring for them.

“I don’t want to put that on Brandi or anyone else down there,” Bell said. “It’s not right for anyone to have to step up and say ‘Oh, this dog right here’ — I don’t want to put anyone in that position. No one wants it on them, but that is the uncomfortable situation that we’re faced with. People can’t take care of their animals and that has landed us here.”

The committee suggested keeping track of details such as animals who have been there the longest and whose behavior had been affected grievously by captivity and were no longer candidates for adoption. Due to the limitations on the shelter’s capacity and the effect long-term captivity in a shelter setting has on animals, the committee felt it was neither realistic nor ethical to keep such pets indefinitely.

“In the past, we’ve had directors that actually euthanized,” Wilcher said. “And then we’ve had them take them to be euthanized. They made the call based on the history and all that, we weren’t involved.”

Ultimately, the committee was unable to decide on criteria and opted to table it for a future meeting where WCACAC Manager Brandi Harville could be in attendance to discuss the matter as well.

WCACAC has no plans to euthanize animals for space and maintains its qualification as a no-kill shelter, which means it has at least a 90% placement rate for the animals in its care. For the month of February, 19 animals were adopted into new homes and a free adoption event is currently taking place.