Wednesday, February 19, 2025
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Sparta Declines Donating To Local Non-Profit

The City of Sparta will not donate to a local non-profit’s cat spay and neuter program.

Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said the county had discussions about making a donation to the program and matching whatever the city donates without consulting the city. Lowery said a resident approached the city and was willing to donate $5,000 to the city for them to donate so the county could match.

“We didn’t feel that was necessarily the right way to go about it,” Lowery said. “We try to be above board and let everybody know where their money is going and where it is coming from. We didn’t feel that was as transparent as it needed to be and so that’s why we said we will not give to that particular fund at this time.”

Lowery said the donor would not get a tax write-off if the donation was made to the city and not to the non-profit directly. Lowery said the city is not against helping animal programs as the city accommodates portions of the budget every year to assist with similar services.

“We have given money before to the animal shelter,” Lowery said. “We think it’s a good thing. We also have our own program, we’ve got our own little shelter that we do and we spend money on. So you know, should we give to that I don’t know.”

Lowery said he doesn’t even know the non-profit’s name or what they do. Lowery said he hopes the county will consult with the city on proposed items before openly discussing them.

“When they make decisions like that without consulting us stuff like this happens,” Lowery said. “We are a hundred feet from where they are at. Check us out and find out what’s the city going to do before they pass a resolution.”

The county has yet to pass a resolution on the donation and in the previous commission meeting the proposal was voted to be sent back to the budget committee.

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