The Silverton Board of Trustees has agreed to fund 13 local nonprofits and community organizations to the tune of $74,762.

The allocation of funds is part a resident-led initiative written into Silverton’s 2022 Master Plan, providing more funding and support to local organizations, according to Town Administrator Gloria Kaasch-Buerger.

“The town is just implementing their direction including supporting these organizations by funding their requests,” Kaasch-Buerger wrote in an email to The Durango Herald.

Recipients of the funding were asked to complete an application online by Oct. 14, which included evidence of each organization’s 501 tax code status (exempt status), what funding is needed and how the organization serves the town of Silverton.

The board of trustees then decided how much money the 13 selected organizations would receive, ranging from $1,314 for KSJC-FM Community Radio Studio to $10,000 for the Silverton Creative District, the Silverton Singletrack Society, Skijoring and the San Juan Development Association.

“The budget requests are a way for the Town of Silverton to help support the local organizations that are providing the community a service,” Kaasch-Buerger said.

The funding allocations became formalized in 2021, when the Board of Trustees approved of an application and review period process for the 2022 budget. This year, $40,000 was allocated to seven nonprofit or community organizations. For 2023, the requests for funding will double. The original funding amount by the community was $101,762, but the trustees could only agree to the reduced amount, which will be taken from excess sales tax revenue and a growing general fund balance.

Silverton’s 2023 budget will be presented for approval on Dec. 12.

“It is exciting to be reminded how many amazing local nonprofit and community organizations we have in Silverton, and we are incredibly proud to support them,” Mayor Shane Fuhrman said in a news release.

molsen@durangoherald.com