While state legislative grants have come under scrutiny for being politically doled out and even called a “political mess” by House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, the $150,000 Warwick contributive support program benefiting 26 non-profits is being touted as a model free of political influence and essential to the community.

“We could not do that work. If we had to replace them we would never get it done,” Mayor Scott Avedisian said of the services provided the community.

The largest of the grants this year – $16,000 – was awarded to Volunteers of Warwick Schools at the Drum Rock Early Childhood Educational Center. The smallest was $500 that was awarded to the Samartians with simply an address of a post office box and Meals on Wheels. The Samartians provide counseling to those with suicidal tendencies. Many of those awarded contributive support also receive state legislative grants as well as city, state and federal funding.

Avedisian said he reviews the grants as they are proposed by a three-member committee that considers requests and meets with applicants before the budget process begins. He estimated that process has been in place for about 20 years, and he believes it is effective.

Avedisian said Ann Gallogly, Margaret Andreozzi and Gloria Fairbanks make up the review committee and that the group “makes sure that there is a face-to-face meeting with the agency applying for the grant and that there are financial reports included.”

“This would be in the form of an audit. Traditionally, I have not altered the recommendations of the group,” he said.

Camille Vella-Wilkinson, councilwoman and chair of the finance committee, likewise sees the system as accountable and effective. She called the system “equitable and repeatable.”

“I think the process should remain as it is now,” she said.

Vella-Wilkinson favors the broader concept of taxpayer dollars supporting non-profits to augment community programs. She points out that non-profits are capable of providing those services for less than what the city could do.

“We’re not paying for additional salaries and benefits,” she said.

Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur believes contributive support should not be a sole source of revenue for an agency.

“You raise a buck, we give you a buck,” he said.

Similarly, Vella-Wilkinson said the city should be one of the stakeholders, not the only stakeholder.

Other than the Boys and Girls Clubs and the Samaritans agencies, receiving contributive support and the amounts received this year are: ALS Association, $3,000; Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs, $10,000; Bridgemark, $5,000; CHILD Inc., $2,500; CCAP Health Center, $4,000; Cornerstone Adult Day Care Services, $6,000; EBC Center, $13,000; Friend’s Way, $6,000; JONAH Community Center, $3,700; Kent County YMCA, $3,000; Ocean State Center of Independent Living, $2,000; Warwick Police Athletic League, $3,500; Crossroads RI, $11,000; Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership, $1,000; Sargent Rehabilitation Center, $1,000; Shalom Housing Inc., $2,500; The Impossible Dream, $2,200; The Kent Center, $5,000; Trudeau Memorial Center, $13,000; VNA Care New England, $10,000; Warwick House of Hope, $13,000; Warwick Museum of Art, $3,600; and West Bay Community Action, $9,000.

In addition to these grants, the city also provides funding to youth athletic leagues and the Warwick Figure Skaters through the parks and recreation budget.

The budget for the coming year is $177,000. The increase is a result of reclassification of funding for the Trudeau Center. Specific amounts for agencies had not been determined as of Wednesday.