Community Services Consortium Working To Recover Financially

The executive director of the Community Services Consortium (CSC), asked Lincoln County to consider a one-time contribution of up to $500,000 to help the agency maintain operating cash as it works to stabilize its finances.

Ryan Vogt, CSC’s executive director, made the request to the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 7. He said the request was for short-term operating flexibility and was not a decision about whether the county should remain part of the consortium.

CSC is a government-entity community action agency created by Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. Vogt described it as a roughly $60 million organization that pays out about $5 million a month for services, including housing and utility assistance and Head Start.

Because many programs reimburse the agency after costs are incurred, he said CSC typically has between $1.5 million and $3 million in the bank, leaving limited room for delays or disruptions.

Vogt said the agency had previously been losing an estimated $200,000 to $250,000 a month, citing missed grant billings, financial reporting difficulties and an unfavorable indirect-cost recovery policy.

He told commissioners that new administrative measures and grant changes had helped CSC move toward a positive financial position, though the fiscal-year figures were not yet finalized. He also said the agency’s audits remained behind schedule.

The request followed an August discussion by CSC’s board of directors. Vogt said each county was being asked to consider contributing up to $500,000 for the current fiscal year. He cautioned that without added operating margin, CSC could face difficult budget decisions that might affect services.

Benton County Commissioner Gabe Shepherd, who chairs CSC’s board, said Benton County planned to discuss possible funding sources with its finance team the following week. He said he was not sure the county would reach $500,000, and noted that commissioners had also discussed whether contributions should reflect differences in county size.

Lincoln County’s commissioners did not approve a contribution at the Oct. 7 meeting. The discussion is expected to continue as all three counties consider their positions.