Harnett commissioners block funding to nonprofits, say taxpayer dollars could be better spent

But the Harnett County Board of Commissioners voted last week to stop funding the all nonprofits in the county in the upcoming budget year.

Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to stop assisting more than two dozen nonprofits.

Amos Love, the executive director of Beacon Rescue Missions, said that the pandemic has taken a bite out of the Mission's budget.

The Beacon Rescue Mission has thrift stores, and homeless shelters throughout the county. The mission had to close their shelter's rooms during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Over the last roughly 14 months now, we've spent over $110,000 on hotel rooms," he said.

"That was going to cover the cost of what we're spending on hotel rooms on an average month," he said.

The county's nonprofit committee at first asked for about $83,000. After trimming that down to $66,000 — closer to the amount the committee asked for last year — three commissioners decided not to give anything.

The Beacon Rescue Mission is now reaching out to all the nonprofits that applied for funding, and will list them on their donation page.

"We've had many people that have contacted us and have said they don't want their tax dollars spent," he said. "That they would prefer to contribute to non-profits individually and not from the government."

He said there were a number of items on the budget that he didn't feel like were worthwhile to spend taxpayer dollars on.

The Dunn History Museum was also denied its funding by the commissioner's decision. The museum's vice president is also one of the two commissioners who voted against the funding cut.

Mark Johnson, the commissioner, said he's never asked the county for funding before. But this pandemic year, he struggled to make ends meet and applied for $2,000.

"Other museums have had to close down" he said. "Our visitors who have made donations have been non-existent."

Love said he didn't know how he was going to pay the bills during the pandemic.

"But with the support of our community, with our stores, and churches and businesses, we were able to meet that need," Love said.

He has faith that the community will support Beacon after the funding cut.