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Some practices are considered sacred in the hallowed halls of Sussex County Council. At the top of the list is each councilman’s discretionary grant fund, totaling at least $61,000 this fiscal year.
Nonprofit groups throughout the county solicit their councilmen to tap into those accounts asking for grants of $50 to $10,000.
Votes to approve the grants are always unanimous – until Tuesday, Oct. 7, when Councilman Vance Phillips took exception to what he called a spending spree by retiring Councilman Dale Dukes, who is leaving office Dec. 1 – halfway through the fiscal year.
With three grants Tuesday totaling $10,500, Dukes’ coffer is down to $30,405 with seven meetings remaining before he steps down. Since July 1, Dukes has handed out $82,600 – $36,000 more than any other councilman and $56,000 more than Phillips has granted.
Phillips said Dukes should leave at least half of the fund – about $30,500 - for his replacement. “You promised you would not spend all the money and you are going back on your word,” Phillips said to Dukes. “That is being irresponsible. You are not leaving any money for the taxpayers because of your spending spree.”
Dukes, who was visibly upset by Phillips’ comments, said it was none of Phillips’ business. “I did not promise what amount I would save in the account because I’m not sure what requests I will still get in,” he said.
On one of Dukes’ three requests, Phillips said he was willing to chip in $2,000 from his fund if Dukes would reduce his grant to $3,000 and split up the donation of $5,000 for the Laurel Public Library security system to save some money in his account. Dukes said no.
Phillips voted for that grant as well as a $5,000 grant for the Town of Blades to purchase park equipment, but he voted against a $500 donation from Dukes’ account for God’s Food Wagon to purchase supplies.
“I just want you to know I put you on notice,” Phillips told Dukes.
Also retiring are Finley Jones, president, and Lynn Rogers, but they are not following the same track as Dukes. Rogers has more than $90,000 remaining in his account and Jones has more than $86,000 left in his account. All councilmen have unspent funds remaining from previous fiscal years.
Phillips has more than $72,000 remaining and the most frugal of all, Councilman George Cole, has $124,553 to spend.
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