The Evansville City Council has rejected three measures to reduce funding for local not-for-profits.
The council unanimously withdrew a non-binding resolution authored by Democrats Missy Mosby and Jonathan Weaver to restrict funding to 11 specific organizations in 2021.
An ordinance by Mosby and Weaver to change the current process and create a non-profit assistance committee was rejected on 5-4 vote.
And a resolution written by Republican Justin Elpers to eliminate all funding to non-profits by 2023 was defeated 6-3. Mosby and Weaver joined Elpers in support of that resolution.
Evansville Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer argued the current process of awarding city funds to non-profits is fair and transparent.
A group of local arts leaders also argued in favor of keeping the current process, and emphasized the importance of the arts in the community.
WNIN is among non-profits that have received city funding.
The issue drew a large crowd to Monday night’s city council meeting.