In fiscal year 2008-09, the city of Sedona gave the Boys & Girls Club of Sedona $45,000, but like other outside agencies, the club might not be able to expect the same this year.

As Sedona City Council begins budget discussions in May, one tough topic may be subsidizing outside agencies — agencies that have a long history of receiving city funds and provide a slew of services to city residents.

But with the city looking to preserve its own employees and services, without dipping too far into its reserves, funding to outside agencies may be cut or eliminated, Interim City Manager Alison Zelms said.

“Council doesn’t have the proposed budget, so it’s hard for them to say at this point,” Zelms said. “It’s really going to be balancing those factors.”

According to Interim Executive Director Hayley Bruemmer, the $45,000 from the city makes up 9 percent of BGC’s $509,000 budget and goes toward running the club’s Teen Center on Posse Ground Road.

The Teen Center houses teen programs and after-school programs for younger children.

In the 2008-09 school year, the Teen Center had 105 young children members and 70 teens.

The average cost, per child, to attend the Teen Center is $1,500 per year.

Since families pay less than half that amount for their children to attend the after-school program, BCG must subsidize the rest, Bruemmer said.

“City funding enables us to keep our monthly dues low so that families can afford our program,” she said. In January, monthly dues were lowered from $95 to $59.

The city money funds youth development programs in five core areas, Bruemmer said, such as preparing for careers, eating healthy and exercising and learning to budget and save.

BGC also offers the leadership development group, Keystone Club, to high school students, which focuses on community involvement.

City funding also subsidizes events like Skatefest, Battle of the Bands, dances, bowling night, movie nights and field trips.

BGC’s other sources of funding are corporate and individual donations, grants and fundraisers.

“If the Boys & Girls Club did not receive funding from the city of Sedona or received a reduction in funding, it would severely hurt our ability to offer quality programming at the Teen Center and be open often enough to truly impact young people’s lives,” Bruemmer said.

Each year, BGC gives hundreds of children a safe, positive place to go during the hours when they’re most likely to engage in delinquent behavior, Bruemmer said, such as experimenting with drugs, alcohol, tobacco and premature sex.

“If a young person turns to a life of crime, it costs local taxpayers over $40,000 per year to incarcerate that offender,” she said. “For that same amount, 26 children could attend the club for a full year, including summer camp.”

BGC focuses on providing children with the skills to avoid dangers in life and how to give back to the community.

Since drug abuse is a problem in the Verde Valley, BGC offers Smart Moves, a program to educate children on substance abuse and how to avoid it, Bruemmer said.

The club is “invaluable” to parents, she said, who want a safe, affordable place for their

children.