Town Council receives request for funding from the Warren Heritage Society

At the January 22nd Town Council Worksession, the Warren Heritage Society has requested funding to support their operation, specifically their utilities.

Background
In 2014 Council considered a reimbursement of the expense of utility services for the Warren Heritage Society located at 101 Chester Street in the amount of $10,000 due to “their campus of preservation has grown significantly and their outreach into the community has extended with greater need in the area”. In accordance with the authority granted governments by Virginia Code Section 15.2-953, Council approved the request and for the money to come from Electric, Water, Sewer and Solid Waste Fund Reserves to be used toward payment of the respective portion of the utility bills beginning July 1, 2014.

In 2015, Council approved the donation of $15,000 (increase of $5,000) beginning September 2015. In 2016, Council approved the donation of $15,000 to begin September 2016, but also requested that the Warren Heritage Society make efforts to improve the efficiency of their buildings and report these efforts prior to requesting continued donations in the future. The 2016 request was also discussed at the November 2016 Liaison Committee Meeting. In 2017, Council approved the donation of $15,000 to begin September 2017. In 2018, Council approved the donation of $15,00 for FY2018-2019. Funding from last year came from the Electric, Water, Sewer and Refuse as Unrecognized Revenue.

Town staff recommends a strategy to decrease funding to ultimately eliminate donation. Staff has asked for Council direction on the future intent of this donation.