City of Decorah officials are mulling guidelines for contributions to non-profit organizations

During this fiscal year, the City of Decorah has given $43,000 to non-profit organizations, including Helping Services for NE Iowa, NEICAC, the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce and others.

The contributions have been made as requests have come in, but city officials want to prepare a policy on such contributions.  City council member Gary Rustad on Monday night suggested that such contributions be made only once a year when city council members are drawing up a new city budget.  City council member Jody Neiss suggested the city council set an overall amount for donations and not exceed that amount.

Finance Committee chair Paul Wanless suggested the city reduce its contributions by $10,000 next year.  "I'd rather see us do less than more," said Wanless, who posed an overall question: "Are we in the charitable business?"