Agencies seek money from Valley council

Organizations that provide social services and push for economic growth in Spokane Valley made their cases for funding from the city’s 2006 budget Tuesday night.

At its regular meeting, the council reached a consensus that the amount set aside for nongovernmental agencies should increase by $20,000 to $120,000. But that still leaves the agencies requesting $66,430 more than what would be available.

Draft budget numbers without the increase set aside $31,000 for groups that provide social services. They are the Chase Youth Commission, Project Access, the Spokane Valley Community Center and Big Brothers Big Sisters, which will apply this year for the first time.

The budget sets aside $69,000 for economic development agencies, namely the Spokane Area Economic Development Council and the International Trade Alliance.

The council selected from roughly $267,000 in requests for last year’s $100,000, and $301,000 for the same amount the year before.

The council will discuss outside agency funding next at its Sept. 13 meeting and will vote on it later in the budget process.