Concerns rise over taxpayer funding for private school

During a recent government meeting, discussions centered on the allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, particularly regarding their use for the Lifts School, a private institution. Concerns were raised about the appropriateness of using taxpayer dollars for a private school, despite the school reporting that 51% of its student population qualifies as low-income. One board member highlighted a recent IRS filing indicating the school had a surplus of nearly $4 million, which raised questions about the necessity of public funding.

The conversation also touched on the need for increased rental assistance in light of rising housing costs. A board member suggested that with limited land available for development, it might be more beneficial to allocate more funds to rental assistance programs to help residents remain in their homes. This point was underscored by the observation that there had been no voucher requests in the past year, indicating a potential gap in service.

The meeting concluded with a motion to approve the funding allocations, which passed unanimously. Additionally, the board emphasized the importance of being involved in future ribbon-cutting events for affordable housing projects, reinforcing their commitment to community engagement and oversight.