The UCDD Executive Board approved a measure Wednesday to increase the annual dues each county and municipality pays the agency.
Executive Director Mark Farley said the dues are calculated based on the most recent census count. Currently, each entity pays 26 cents per person to the agency. Farley said it will increase a to 31 cents per person.
“They cover the matching requirements to all the grants, such as public transportation, our aging programs, a lot of programs that come in and do services in their county,” Farley said. “This is a way for them to put money towards those programs.”
Farley said the nickel increase will generate $23,506 for the 25/26 fiscal year. Farley said the additional funds will go towards the administrative costs of all the agency’s programs.
“The communities are required by state statute to contribute dues towards the agency,” Farley said. “We are created on their behalf. We operate for the cities and counties of the Upper Cumberland and they have a responsibility to match some of the cost of our operation.”
Farley said this fiscal year the communities contributed $122,235 next year that amount will be $145,742. Putnam County contributes the most money at some $20,762. That number will increase to $24,754. Cumberland County’s contribution will increase to $18,954.
“As our grants increase in value, as they go up year to year, that matching requirement grows along with it,” Farley said,” “It’s just inflation like everything else.”
The development districts statewide are asking the legislature to update its funding structure to provide additional revenue.
The Executive Committees of both UCHRA and UCDD approved the organization’s new fiscal year budget Wednesday.
