McDaniel to host grant-writing workshop to steer away from using discretionary funds

District 3 Supervisor Daron McDaniel made a promise during his nearly two years on the campaign trail.

“I feel like the discretionary funds shouldn’t be used toward nonprofits because that $40,000 needs to benefit every constituent,” McDaniel said, referring to the annual $40,000 each supervisor receives to spend on projects of their choosing.

In keeping with that promise, McDaniel has voted against every expenditure brought before the Board of Supervisors that has involved a nonprofit, sports team or other specialized group since taking office in January. The proposals, put on the meeting agendas by the four other county supervisors, must receive a majority vote to pass.

McDaniel said the discretionary dollars would be better spent on bricks-and-mortar projects – repairing public buildings, for example – and public safety. “Because it has the potential of benefiting everybody,” McDaniel told the Merced Sun-Star.

But since nonprofits heavily rely on donations and other funding to operate, McDaniel is hosting a grant writing workshop on April 17 to teach people how to find and apply for grants. The training, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Castle Airport Conference Center, will feature a team of grant-writing professionals from California State University, Fresno.

It’s an alternative to using taxpayers’ money on nonprofits’ causes, McDaniel said.

According to the latest figures available to the Sun-Star, the five districts had a combined balance of $435,330 as of June 2014. The supervisors are each allotted $40,000 every fiscal year and any unused dollars roll over.

District 1 Supervisor John Pedrozo has used his funding the most frequently, paying for everything from uniforms and equipment for youth sports to janitorial services and a personal assistant.

During a board meeting this week, Pedrozo asked the supervisors to approve $1,200 to buy shoes and training materials for the track team at Planada Elementary School. Despite McDaniel’s dissenting vote, the expenditure passed. Pedrozo also gave $1,000 to purchase uniforms for Le Grand High School’s baseball team in February.

Pedrozo did not respond to calls for comment Thursday.

A Sun-Star review of the largest discretionary fund expenditures from the past five years – during a period when the county faced budget deficits, employee furloughs and fewer public safety resources – found the following:

▪ Former District 3 Supervisor Mike Nelson in 2009 gave $40,000 to a study that looked at making Castle Commerce Center a “maintenance hub” for high-speed rail. He also paid $100,000 in 2010 for the library’s air conditioning.

▪ District 5 Supervisor Jerry O’Banion forwarded $90,188 in 2009 for upgrades to the Carver Center. He gave $60,000 for a building at the Los Banos Cemetery in 2010 and $42,000 for the air conditioning at the Dos Palos Memorial Rural Health Clinic in 2013.

▪ District 2 Supervisor Hub Walsh forwarded $100,000 in 2012 to create a one-stop permitting center for the county.

▪ Pedrozo’s largest expenditures were related to his assistant’s salary: more than $82,000 in the past five years. District 4 Supervisor Deidre Kelsey also pays for an assistant, but she previously said the position is budgeted for no more than $2,500 a year.

McDaniel said he’s creating a form that asks people requesting discretionary funding to explain how the project would benefit the entire community. The requester also would have to attend a Board of Supervisors meeting to answer questions about the project.

The Board of Supervisors haven’t previously required applications or paperwork for discretionary fund requests.

But McDaniel said it’s similar to applying for grants, which is why Friday’s workshop will help.

The cost of attendance is $35 and checks can be made out to Fresno State. To register, contact Ismael Diaz Herrera, associate director of the Fresno State Office of Community and Economic Development, at (559) 278-0519 or isherrera@csufresno.edu.

This story was originally published April 9, 2015 at 8:11 PM with the headline "McDaniel to host grant-writing workshop to steer away from using discretionary funds."