The city of Snoqualmie will more than triple its funding for charitable services and programs that help people in need this year.

Snoqualmie increased its human service support budget allocation from approximately $37,000 in 2007 to $97,000 in 2008, or 1 percent of the city’s general fund for the year. The city passed a resolution that commits one percent of the fund to human services support as part of the annual budget.

Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson marked the milestone at the April 14 council meeting, introducing members of Valley charitable agencies, including Ed Belleba of Friends of Youth, Gail Gergasko of the Mount Si Helping Hand Food Bank, Marilyn Mason-Plunkett of Hopelink, Ruth Tolmasoff of the Mount Si Senior Center, and Nancy Whitaker of Encompass.

The city’s application process for 2008 will be announced by the end of April, with awards of the 2008 funding made by mid-2008. To find out more about the program, contact Debra Whalawitsa, Director of Administration Services, at (425) 888-1555 or dwhalawitsa@ci.snoqualmie.wa.us.