Central Midlands Council of Governments asks subcommittee for roughly $500,000 boost to state appropriation

Bridal Poole, representing the Central Midlands Council of Governments, told the Senate finance constitutional subcommittee that the COG seeks an increase in state appropriation from about $1.5 million to $2,000,000 to support professional staff and regional services.

"Because of those two reasons, we're asking for increase of our appropriation funds, from the 1.5 and some change to 2,000,000," Poole said, noting the House had included the request in its budget.

Committee members praised the role of regional councils of governments in coordinating services across jurisdictions and expressed hope the Senate would align with the House funding decision. No formal vote on the COG appropriation occurred during the hearing.

Poole thanked the committee for past support and for the opportunity to present the request; the subcommittee took the request under consideration as part of the budget process.