Big Request Night At City Budget Talks

Wednesday, February 21, 2007 03:48 AM

Budget meetings #7 and #8 are set for council chambers later today

Prince George Councillors have some difficult decisions on the table when they gather at City Hall later today for two scheduled budget meetings.

The Prince George Public Library is seeking an increase in its city grant of almost $400-thousand dollars - the library is looking for $3.3-million in 2007, up from $2.94-million last year. As per council's directive to maintain services at last year's levels, city staff is recommending a grant of $3.0-million.

The 2007 budget for Initiatives Prince George and its many divisions - including City Centre Ventures, Tourism PG, the Film Commission, and Export North - also goes before councillors. The city's funding commitment was $1.264-million last year and that's recommended to rise to $1.293-million this year.

Grants to community groups and organizations are also on the evening agenda:

The Grants to Organizations budget totals $14,300.00, but the requests total almost $128-thousand, with a $100-thousand dollar request coming from the Prince George Crimestoppers Association to hire and train a full-time coordinator. Staff is not recommending a grant, saying the request doesn't fit the grant program criteria.

The Cultural Grants budget is set at almost $160-thousand dollars this year; however, the 13 applications received total $209-thousand dollars.

The Promotional and Event Grant budget is set at just over $46-thousand dollars, but Director of Leisure Services, Tom Madden, is asking council to consider boosting that budget by $15-thousand dollars this year in order to accomodate the growing number of events being held in our city, and subsequent requests for assistance.

23 applicants have applied for social grants from the city - those applications total $294-thousand dollars. The Social Grants Advisory Committee has recommended eight which amount to $125-thousand dollars. The same amount approved in 2005 and 2006.

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Posted on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 03:48 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: bohemian on February 21 2007 10:27 AM

"The Cultural Grants budget is set at almost $160-thousand dollars this year; however, the 13 applications received total $209-thousand dollars."

Really, this isn't very much money.

Just think, if we didn't purchase a new scoreclock for $1,000,000 (that will be used less than 100 hours per year), the interest could pay 30% to 40% of the budgeted amount in perpetuity.

ps - with more math you'll descover that the scoreclock will cost about $1 per person, per game, in lost interest revenue.

Posted by: Raparee on February 21 2007 11:44 AM

$160k in cultural grants, but only $125k in social grants. Really indicates to me where our priorities are.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 21 2007 3:25 PM

Too bad the majority of Prince George taxpayers are not an organization. Might be nice to put our hands out to get back some of our taxes.

Posted by: owl on February 21 2007 5:17 PM

"$160k in cultural grants, but only $125k in social grants. Really indicates to me where our priorities are."

I see. What your comments indicate to me is that you have not got the faintest clue about the details of the grants.

Cultural grants approved:

in 2004 - $129,630
in 2005 - $162,630
in 2006 - $171,899

Requeted for 2007 - $209,244.
Recommended for acceptance - $159,630 so back to the 2005 level.

$72,00 is for Theatre North West
$60,000 is for the PG Symphony

Both of those, plus $8,000 for the Community Arts Council are through a service agreement and are thus not discretionary. They probably do not even belong under "grants".

So, less than $20,000 is discretionary.
-----------------------------
Now over to social "grants".

- AWAC - $15,000 - outreach support for women and children
- Shizophrenia Society - $14,000
- Learning Difficulties Centre - $15,000
- John Howard Society - $27,000 (family violence prevention program
- PEERS - $12,600 (sex trade worker issues)
- St Patrciks House - $22,000 life skills worker for homeless, addicted men
- Shepherd's Corner - $14,400 - confidence building for downtown homeless.

When I look at those I say to myself that we are doing this as a result of downloading from senior governments, primarily provincial. People requiring social assistance should not have to rely on the city to provide those services. For those who are mobile, they should have similar access in any community.

Posted by: owl on February 21 2007 5:19 PM

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/cityhall/agendas

You can download the budget information at the bottom of the linked page.

Posted by: Raparee on February 22 2007 9:13 AM

Whatever pro-art spin you try to put on it, the bottom line is that the city provides FOUR TIMES more funding for the PGSO than it does for a program for abused women. The New Hope Society was denied any funding to assist women in the sex trade, yet TNW was granted $72,000. Positive Living North recieved jack-squat to help those living with hiv/AIDS, but the PGSO deserves $60,000. So many agencies which devote themselves to helping the homeless, improving health, HELPING PEOPLE are denied funds which would help them provide better service, while $132,000 goes to only two cultural bodies. Why is the city even providing continuing operating funds to TNW and the PGSO? If they can't cover their operating costs with the revenue they're bringing in, it would indicate to me that there isn't sufficient community interest in these groups. Why is the city spending money to maintain art groups that the community doesn't support, especially considering that there are SO many groups out there that deserve that $132,000+, and could put it to MUCH better use.