PORTSMOUTH — Saying local nonprofits and other organizations should limit their budget requests the same as town departments, the Town Council has set an overall cap on civic support requests of about 2.36 percent for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

While discussing the annual list of civic support requests that come from organizations such as the Portsmouth Free Public Library, Clean Ocean Access, and the Portsmouth Prevention Coalition, the council Monday night voted unanimously to set the top line budget for civic support at $963,350.

That’s $22,209 more than the current figure of $941,141, but about $50,000 less than what the organizations had requested collectively.

Council member Keith Hamilton, who made the motion for the cap, justified the action by saying the council has asked individual town departments to keep their budget increases to within 1 or 2 percent, so nonprofits should be asked to show similar fiscal restraint.

“At some point we have to hold our civic support requests to the same guidelines,” Hamilton said.

Added Council President Kevin Aguiar, “We would like to give more to these organizations, but unfortunately we do have our constraints.”

Hamilton noted the Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department’s request for $212,248, an $24,248 (12.9 percent) increase over its current grant.

“A 13-percent increase is not going to fly,” Hamilton said.

Council member Daniela Abbott, addressing the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission’s (AIPC) request for $18,000 after receiving nothing over the past two years, said she didn’t think the organization is taking the lead on resiliency issues and hasn’t provided enough services to the town to justify the request.

Marco Camacho, AIPC’s board chairman, countered by saying the group’s Island Waters project alone has brought in $900,000 of services to the town.

The council did not set any specific figures for individual groups Monday night, so some organizations may end up receiving larger increases than others, percentage-wise.Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. said as long as he knows the bottom line, his department can make those recommendations later on in the budget process.

Some council members made pitches for certain groups which they said provide a good deal of services and resources to the community at a small cost from taxpayers. 

Although the largest request for funding ($547,024) came from the library, several council members said that’s a reasonable ask because that figure is only 1.42 percent ($7,662) more than what the organization is receiving now.

Vice President Linda Ujifusa spotlighted the work of East Bay Community Action Program (EPCAP), which she said provides $600,000 in services to the community, including the meals served at the Portsmouth Senior Center. EPCAP has not been funded by the town in recent years, but is asking $5,000, which Ujifusa said is a modest request.

Likewise, Hamilton said the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center has contributed enormously to the greater community over the past year, although a $7,500 increase in support “may be a little high.” The center is currently receiving $2,500 but has requested $10,000 for next year.

Be Great for Nate Inc. (BG4N) now receives $3,000, but has asked for $10,000 next year. Noting the nonprofit was level-funded last year, Executive Director Stephen Peterson touted the benefits to local youth the organization provides. 

“Friday Night Lights,” a popular program at West Main Pizza that hopes to expand to other locations going forward, gives local teens a safe place to have fun without resorting to alcohol or other substances, he said. Eleven events have been held so far, drawing an average of 61 high school students. Now it’s being expanded to the lower grades, he said.

“They’re looking for reasons to make smart decisions,” Peterson said.

Andrew Perry, a PHS student and vice president of Every Student Initiative, one of BG4N’s programs, said it’s great to see young people “come together and make a true connection with each other.”

Future meetings

The council will hold its regular meetings on the following Mondays, all at 7 p.m.: Feb. 28, March 14, and March 28.

The council will also host public hearings on the Comprehensive Community Plan on the following Mondays, also at 7 p.m.: March 7, March 21, and April 4.