DEXTER — The Stoddard County Senate Bill 40 board ended a chaotic 2018 in the black, despite controversy over how funds are managed and what programs should be supported by the entity that was created to help disabled residents.
The board saw revenues of just over $405,000 and expenses at approximately $401,000, according to a report given to board members Thursday evening.
With less than $4,000 in surplus cash for the year, expenses in 2018 did not include what are expected to be annual costs of more than $81,600 for loan payments that will need to be made on two buildings constructed to house Progressive Industries, a thrift store and other efforts.
This will affect a 2019 budget year in which the existing sheltered workshop is expected to ask for money for repairs to their building. The board is also undertaking efforts to sell at least one of the newly constructed and recently opened buildings.
The board still expects to end 2019 in the black, according to administrator Dana McClure.
Funding for Progressive Industries was pulled from the current budget, according to motions previously passed by the board.
Contributions to the existing sheltered workshop program have also been reduced, members of that organization pointed out during the meeting. It was expected to receive $110,000 in 2018 before funding was temporarily cut off, with a contingency fund of $20,000, they said.
SB40 has budgeted $50,000 to support the existing sheltered workshop in 2019, with a $15,000 contingency fund.
The existing workshop plans to come back to the board with bids to repair or replace their building’s roof and make other repairs. A bill for just under $6,000 was presented Thursday for tree removal.
Board member Deb McKay asked if the workshop had money budgeted for repairs or for the tree removal.
“I don’t have hardly any money. Hopefully, after this year I will,” said Devin Miller, interim director, later asking why the workshop should pay for the tree removal.
Some workshops are able to support themselves, McKay said.
“That’s what our money is for,” said board member Danny Griffin. “They are not supposed to be able pay all their bills.”
“Yes, they are. There are workshops that can pay for their own (costs),” McKay responded.
That’s why voters created the SB40 tax, Griffin said.
The workshop isn’t asking for a full remodel of the building, Miller said.
“I don’t want to do that from the get-go. I just want to fix in phases my roof and things that could cause problems,” he said.
Miller is going about this in the right way, Griffin said.
“People shouldn’t gripe about us spending money on the (workshop) building. When you built these buildings, nobody had a say about that, just the SB40 board,” he said.
The board voted to hire a surveyor to complete a legal description for the building that serves as office space for targeted case management, which is another program that serves the disabled. This building is also home to Echos thrift store.
The board has voted to sell this building, and also discussed selling a second building on the lot that is home to Progressive Industries.
Construction on both buildings was completed in 2018, with money coming from SB40 cash reserves and a $1.2 million loan.
Miller questioned if the board was going to allow Progressive Industries to continue to operate from the SB40-owned building for $1 per year. Miller has previously said Progressive Industries competes for the funds and contracts meant for the workshop program he runs.
The contract SB40 has with Progressive Industries would not hold up in court, said board member Don Rhodes, also saying both of the new buildings should be sold.
“Why wouldn’t it hold up? It’s for the disabled,” asked Mike McCollough, of Progressive Industries.
“Because the rental price of that building is a heck of lot more than $1 per year, you know that,” Rhodes responded. “That’s giving it away. We’re not allowed to give things away because we are a tax entity.”
McCollough asked how much money has been given to the existing workshop over 25 years.
Basically, the board could opt out of the contract or make Progressive Industries pay rent, Miller said.
They will have to pay fair market if the board keeps the building, Rhodes said.
The board also discussed proposed bylaws submitted by board member Josh Hester, who said these could provide more direction on how to handle matters, such as property sales. The bylaws will be discussed again at a future meeting.
The board plans to ask the Stoddard County Commission for a replacement for chairperson Joe Weber, who has been unable to attend meetings.