Every year, half of Caddo Parish's Riverboat Fund goes to help support non-government organizations or NGOs. To get that cash a NGO only had one application form to fill out but not anymore.

"Our last NGO form was 1 page long, and in 1 page, you're not really going to ask for a lot of information," Commissioner Michael Lynn said. He's president of the NGO committee. He says the forms are now 6 pages long. Its the first change to the application process in 30 years and influences come from several organizations. The longer application offers more information and allows the parish to better justify the appropriations to taxpayers. Commissioners can now better choose an organization to help and monitor the group's spending.

"Whoever they may be, that they actually are able to deliver the services that they promised they can deliver to the citizens of Caddo Parish," Lynn said.

The longer and more questioning forms haven't put off NGOs from seeking funds. Lynn says $6.6 million worth of requests have been made for this year's budget. The Caddo Commission typically on gets $1 million dollars to spread out over NGOs.