Budgets taking a toll on state nonprofits

Following the “Man bites dog” reasoning, it would be news if a state agency asked for less money.

These days, though, even a headline blaring “Nonprofits want less” might have trouble nudging out the competition.

After all, there has also been the historic, if predictable impeachment “drama”; a death watch over an accused murderer; a memorable Super Bowl comeback and the mounting tension over which celebrities will weep over winning or losing golden trophies.

Regardless, Connecticut’s nonprofit social service agencies followed the boilerplate script and requested more funding this budget season.

There were some changes in the plot. Pleading for $100 million from the state’s reserve didn’t work out last year, so the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance requested a cut of future surpluses amounting to about $460 million over the next five years.

That was in a news conference last week. In his budget, Gov. Ned Lamont responded that the money won’t be coming, though he is proposing $25 million in borrowing to finance a grant program that could fund capital costs for community-based agencies.

The alliance’s news conference offered a stark reminder that nonprofits struggle to draw attention away from sexier state topics such a tolls, legalized marijuana and gambling. The news conference was attended by exactly one lawmaker, state Sen. Saud Anwar, DSouth Windsor, and few reporters.

“This is not the conversation we should be having,” Anwar said of the dominance of tolls in the public discourse. “But misery doesn’t sell. Sadness doesn’t sell.”

Members of the alliance could hardly be surprised at being rebuffed by the governor, who addressed them recently with a suggestion they raise money from “investor types.”

The alliance claims state spending for their nonprofits has increased by about 10 percent since 2002, which has left them to be lapped by inflation. Lamont’s flat budgets make the hole deeper.

What is not decreasing are caseloads for agencies that serve the mentally ill, the addicted, the abused, the hungry, the families in crisis. This is how safety nets fray.

In real numbers, that’s half a million Connecticut residents. In real numbers, nonprofits employ close to 190,000 people. In real numbers, it’s $1.4 billion annually contracted with community nonprofits. That’s more than the departments of Motor Vehicles, Transportation and Correction — combined.

Those local agencies work hard to raise funds themselves. Fairfield County’s Community Foundation’s 24-hour Giving Day marathon, which will take place Feb. 27, is one example of nonprofits collaborating in an innovative way to fill the financial gaps.

But Lamont must not ignore his view from both ends of the wealth gap, which is reportedly wider in Connecticut than anywhere else.

Lamont enjoyed a career as a wealthy businessman, but as governor is essentially the chairman of the state’s nonprofits. He must not forget his personal obligation to serve our neediest neighbors. He spoke of his state’s moral character during Wednesday’s address. This is a test of that character.

What is not decreasing are caseloads for agencies that serve the mentally ill, the addicted, the abused, the hungry, the families in crisis. This is how safety nets fray.