Overture vs. Community Services Contracts

I keep hearing the Overture contract will be like the non-profit contracts. Cool . . . lets do it! Give us the same deal!

1. Give us an automatic adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index. That hasn’t happened for the non-profit that provide community services . . . we moved away from the commitment to fund programs reasonably and not give them a death by a thousand cuts.

2. Can we get a guarantee of funding, if we follow through on our contract terms? This last year the city “re-prioritized”. Scrambling the funding for the complex web of non-profits that depend upon each other to provide a continuum of services for the people we serve.

3. Can we get maintenance costs for buildings if we own them? The Social Justice Center is in need of some more improvements. It would be great to get new carpeting, instead of installing another round of carpeting squares pulled out of a dumpster.

4. If we don’t meet our program goals, will we be given an opportunity to explain and provide strategies to perform, instead of having it count against us when our funding is considered every two years. Did the Neighborhood House really get that opportunity?

5. Could the City guarantee our workers benefits and good wages? And pay for portions of it? Could they at least pay for the living wage increases every year?

6. Could we come to the city and get a low interest loans when the banks turn us down?

7. Could we get a right of first refusal, to purchase our building if we decide to sell?

8. Could we get board member from the council that will then fight for our funding when it comes before the council for approval? Or even a Mayoral designee, so we get preference when the Mayor makes his budget, an advocate in his office would be handy.

9. Could the city come and do a maintenance and capital expense review and plan for our building?

10. Can we purchase IT services from the city?

11. Can the city give us furniture and equipment for our building, including operating systems and computers.

12. And, finally, can we negotiate the contract prior to the budget process, instead of after.

Ironically, the funding for CDBG and Community Services contracts will be approved tonight at the council meeting a well. The Overture, got a much better deal. And a whole lot more money! One organization is getting $2M. All of the community services agencies, with 169 programs, appears to be about $11M. The $20M listed is confusing, because it is not all city dollars, but federal and state pass through dollars and combines CDBG projects. $9M is ARRA money and money that is being re-authorized from last year. So, its really only $11M. And another 1.4M is reserve funds, and another $1M is in a capital revolving fund. So, its more like $8.5 M or so. So the Overture is getting almost 20 – 25% of what the rest of the community gets for over 100 program. And while most agencies get thousands of dollars, the Overture is getting millions. The numbers have all been confusing, so you’ll have to excuse my numbers if they are a little off . . . but its close.