After weeks of discussing cuts in state grants to Delaware’s nonprofits, lawmakers on the Joint Finance Committee reversed course Tuesday, adding nearly $890,000 to the $45.9 million budget instead.
Some drug treatment programs took minor cuts, while paramedic and emergency services earned an extra $2.4 million.
State budget officials estimate between $3.5 million to $22 million left that could go as cash to fund other infrastructure projects.
JFC co-chair Sen. Harris McDowell (D-Wilmington North) says he prioritizes funding nonprofit over the Bond Bill, which is why he pushed to fully fund grants-in-aid.
“We give them a certain amount of cash and they’re grateful to that and they put it to very good use, but we don’t have to give them any cash to the bond bill," McDowell said.
“Sometimes if you had to cut out some of the things we put in the bond bill, as opposed to some of the very needed service programs like drug treatment programs, we’d rather the latter than the former.”
Further money could come from $6 million set aside to help fund a Wilmington school redistricting initiative.
That proposal faces strong opposition in the state senate after House lawmakers passed it last week.
Backers of the plan say they need $7.5 million to adequately fund it in the first year and will suspend their efforts if they don’t hit that mark.
