SPONSOR:

Rep. Postles & Sen. Lawson

Reps. Briggs King, Collins, Dukes, Gray, Hensley, Hudson, Kenton, Outten, Ramone, D. Short, Spiegelman, Wilson, Yearick; Sens. Cloutier, Richardson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 61

REQUESTING THAT THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE PRIORITIZE THE RESTORATION OF GRANTS-IN-AID FUNDING IN THE FY 2019 APPROPRIATION TO THE LEVELS THAT EXISTED IN THE FY 2017 APPROPRIATION.

WHEREAS, in the coming months the Joint Finance Committee will craft the Fiscal Year 2019 Grants-in-Aid Bill; and

WHEREAS, the current FY 2018 Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Bill was cut by 20% ($8.64 million) as part of a comprehensive plan to close a $364 million state operating budget gap; and

WHEREAS, early forecasts by the Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council indicate the state will start the next fiscal year with a surplus topping $80 million; and

WHEREAS, the Grants-in-Aid Bill helps hundreds of non-profit organizations provide invaluable services to Delawareans throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, organizations that effectively translate Grants-in-Aid assistance into actions benefiting our citizens include, but are not limited to: fire companies, senior centers, veterans’ groups, paramedics, and youth sports clubs; and

WHEREAS, the Grants-in-Aid Bill is an effective mechanism for providing services and opportunities to Delaware citizens that would otherwise not exist or would have to be provided directly by state government at higher cost; and

WHEREAS, removing the funds from the current Grants-in-Aid Bill was an action of last resort designed solely to help the General Assembly comply with its statutory requirement to enact a balanced operating budget; and

WHEREAS, the Grants-in-Aid reductions were not a reflection of the General Assembly’s faith in the grant program; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly is currently considering legislation (HB 260, as amended) to make the Grants-in-Aid process even more transparent, efficient, and trustworthy than it already is; and

WHEREAS, using the FY 2017 Grants-in-Aid Bill as the base funding level for the next GIA Bill is not an increase in state appropriations, but rather a restoration of the previously existing norm; and

WHEREAS, before the Joint Finance Committee approves any new financial obligations it should first consider the state’s ongoing commitment to support the work of Delaware’s non-profit community; and

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 149th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that that the Joint Finance Committee should prioritize the restoration of funds to the FY 2019 Grants-in-Aid Bill to the levels of the FY 2017 GIA appropriation.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution constitutes a request and, while not binding on the actions of the Joint Finance Committee, should be considered as a strong statement of intent by the 50 legislators that are not members of the budget-writing body.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the restoration of funding shall be done only if surplus state revenue exists at sufficient levels to accomplish this request.

SYNOPSIS

Providing sufficient surplus state revenue exists, this House Concurrent Resolution requests the Joint Finance Committee to restore to the FY 2019 Grants-in-Aid Bill funding that was removed from the appropriation at the start of the current fiscal year.