SAFFORD — The Safford City Council agreed to give $100,000 to area nonprofit and charitable organizations, though the distribution of the funds underwent a few changes.
The council unanimously agreed to fund 14 organizations — plus one that had previously been funded prior to the vote — during Monday’s meeting.
Councilman Steve McGaughey took issue with the process, seeking more discussion with staff and from the applicants during the budget process, while Council Member Dusti Brantner was seeking information on for what the funds would be used.
“I think this has been a good beginning, I really do,” said Mayor Richard Ortega. “It’s just a matter of changing a few little things we see that will work better. I definitely like the idea of making the contact with them first.”
Funding for most remained the same from the City Council work session two weeks ago:
- Gila Valley Samaritan Home — $10,000
- Graham County Search and Rescue — $10,000
- Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition — $10,000
- Mt. Graham Safe House — $10,000
- Safford Downtown Association — $10,000
- SEACUS — $10,000
- Gila Valley Arts Council — $6,000
- Angel’s Closet — $5,000
- Gila Valley Balloons — $3,600
- Eastern Arizona Hispanic Heritage Corporation — $3,000
- Our Neighbor’s Farm and Pantry — $2,000
The council agreed to remove funding from Gila Valley Salt Shakers, after it was discovered that the organization is not currently an active 501c3 nonprofit organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
The Safford Bulldog Booster Club’s request to help fund a jumbotron at the high school football field was reduced from $9,400 to $5,000; $3,650 was added for the Safford High School Scholarship Educational Foundation for an all-class reunion in 2025; and funding for Gila Valley VFW Post 10385 was increased from $8,000 to $9,250.
In addition to the $2,500 previously disbursed to Feed My Starving Children, that brought the total to $100,000.
