Town to debate amending community group funding criteria

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Fundraising activities may soon be considered ineligible to receive community group funding from the Town of Strathmore through the Community Improvement Program.

Council approved a motion, Dec. 3, for drafted amendments to the program to be brought before the Committee of the Whole to be considered before any vote by council takes place. 

“Council has a responsibility to manage taxpayers’ funds appropriately. When grants are distributed to organizations to subsidize their fundraising efforts, council lacks oversights in what programs that funding is ultimately supporting and whether they align with the needs of the community and the priorities of council,” said Coun. Melissa Langmaid. “These types of indirect benefits make it difficult for council to quantify and evaluate the benefits gained through the grant funding.”

She said she believes grants distributed under the Community Improvement Program should apply to programs, initiatives, and events that have direct benefits to the community as opposed to indirect.

Currently, the five funding streams outlined in the Community Improvement Program are detailed as to be intended for:

Assisting with the costs of recreation, culture and/or arts programs and events provided to community residents; assisting with capital costs associated with conservation, development or enhancement of programs and service delivery provided by community associations, assisting in offsetting organizational expenses incurred in the operations of programs designed to support community associations offering demonstrated needs; assisting with events and programs which align with family and community support services; and to assist with opportunities to improve local economic well-being and quality of life.

She explained she believes the purpose of the fund should be to support programming that directly benefits residents and the local community – the outcomes of which may be concretely tracked or observed. 

Coun. Brent Wiley suggested that perhaps instead of modifying the Community Improvement Program to such an extent as was suggested, that fundraiser applications be required to clearly identify in what capacity their requests align with grant criteria. 

“We don’t want to create a loophole where we are creating the ability just to ask for funds to raise more funds, but … the amount of money raised at these fundraisers could outweigh the money that would be asked for from these organizations, and so what you are doing is you are providing the means to raise the funds and not necessarily funding them unnecessarily,” added Coun. Claude Brown. “These programs come to us because they need funding and a fundraiser to get funding is also in need of funding.”

Currently, as per the current policy, the CAO has the authority to reduce or waive fees for certain circumstances, such as the rental of the Civic Center, should the CAO deem it to be in the public interest.

Langmaid’s motion was passed in a vote of 5-2 in favour. Councillors Wiley and James Chisholm voted against.