A contrite William Strickland pleaded with the Allegheny Regional Asset District board last night to add $155,000 in 2006 funding for the Manchester Bidwell Corp. after a late application left the organization without an allocation.

Mr. Strickland was among representatives from 18 groups or organizations to make appeals to RAD board members for increases in their proposed funding during a public hearing on the district preliminary $73.7 million budget for 2006.

Others seeking more money included the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the African American Cultural Center and the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh.

But they may have a tough time persuading board members, who made it clear that flat sales tax revenue, the chief RAD funding source, and rising gasoline and energy costs left them with little room to maneuver.

The Manchester Bidwell Corp.'s $155,000 cut was the biggest in the proposed RAD budget. It happened when a mistake caused the agency to deliver its funding application after the deadline last summer.

"I'm here to ask for your forgiveness and for your support and for some way to be reconsidered," Mr. Strickland said.

The RAD board has supported the not-for-profit corporation since the district's inception a decade ago. Without the $155,000, the agency won't be able to leverage other money, which could force it to reduce the scope of its programming, Mr. Strickland said.

Rick Pierchalski, a member of the RAD board allocation committee, said afterward Mr. Strickland made a "very persuasive argument" for funding despite the procedural snafu.

The board will adopt a final budget Dec. 1.