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Delaware Lawmakers Okay Non-Profit Funding

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - After months of warning that money is tight and even threatening funding cuts, members of the legislature's budget committee have approved almost $46 million in grants to nonprofit groups, community agencies and volunteer fire companies.

The proposed grant-in-aid budget approved Tuesday is $2 million higher than the current level of funding and Gov. Jack Markell's recommendation.

The grants package is one of three budget bills that must be approved by lawmakers each year.

Lawmakers are still trying to hash out a capital budget for roads and other constructions projects for the fiscal year that starts Friday.

Medical Spending

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Meanwhile, funding has been restored for medical students in Delaware.

Delaware lawmakers approved $1.9 million for programs in their Grants in Aid bill to non-profits.

This will affect some 170 students in programs ranging from dental and medical care to veterinarian studies.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that State Senator Harris McDowell, chair of the Joint Finance Committee, said legislators did not realize what they were eliminating when they agreed to the cuts.

The budget writing committee added the money back into the budget but it still must be approved by the General Assembly. 

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.