Oxford council approves funding for nonprofits

The Oxford city council agreed Tuesday to pay four local nonprofit agencies while other organizations the city had budgeted money for will go without.  Council members voted unanimously at Tuesday’s meeting to pay those nonprofits, which provide various social services, from resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse to help for the homeless and those in financial need. The allocations included 6,000 for The Calhoun/Cleburne Children’s Center, 2,000 for 2nd Chance, Inc.,  10,000 for Rainbow Omega, and 20,000 for Interfaith Ministries.  Council members in a March meeting agreed to give Coosa Valley Youth Services $30,000. In that same meeting council members decided to wait for a legal opinion from the city attorney before paying Rainbow Omega, a faith-based residential and vocational program in Eastaboga for adults with developmental disabilities.  The city this year budgeted $90,250 to pay Rainbow Omega and 13 other area nonprofit groups, but council members decided to look at each appropriation closer before paying the money.  City attorney Bruce Rice said last month that Alabama law restricts municipalities from paying taxpayer money to private entities, unless the council determines the payments are in the public interest.