Murrysville eyes nonprofit to boost recreation donations

Murrysville officials want to form a nonprofit organization to boost donations for recreational programming.

“We’ve had a degree of success with Concerts in the Park,” Chief Administrator Jim Morrison said of the municipality’s replacement for the annual Community Day celebration.

“I guess it was because of changes in the tax laws, but most of the businesses that were bigger contributors were requiring that their contributions go to a 501(c)3,” Morrison told council members in March, referring to the federal designation for a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. “That is making it difficult to get some of the larger businesses to donate.”

The nonprofit board likely would include members from Murrysville council, municipal staff, the parks commission and the community, who would set up bylaws and procedures for the use of donations.

“The problem we have right now is parks staff is running around talking to anyone who will listen, looking to get a few hundred dollars, and it’s not really productive,” Morrison said.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Councilman Dayne Dice. “If it helps us secure more donations and do more for the community, let’s do it.”

At council’s April 3 meeting, Morrison said he’d received the incorporation paperwork to form the nonprofit and was seeking comments from council on how to move forward.

“We need to keep this on track,” Morrison said, adding that the board must officially meet to formalize a request for a 501(c)3 designation.