Councillors debate rental discounts for local fundraisers

By Melissa Crispin-Piche Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Whether local charities should receive help renting town facilities for fundraisers remains an unsettled question in Strathmore’s proposed community grant policy.

Council debated the issue Oct. 14 while reviewing a new facility rental assistance stream that would cover up to half the eligible rental cost. As drafted, fundraising events would not qualify.

Staff said the exclusion followed earlier council direction. Coun. Melissa Langmaid, who brought forward the original motion, said the intent was to direct public money toward specific programs and community benefits.

Funding a fundraiser gives council less say over what ultimately happens with its contribution, Coun. Langmaid argued.

“If we fund a fundraiser, council has no input on how the funds from that fundraiser are applied,” Coun. Langmaid said.

Organizations holding galas, benefits or similar events could instead approach the town for direct support of the programs those events help finance, Coun. Langmaid said.

Coun. Claude Brown took a different view, arguing that a break on rental costs could help local organizations support themselves.

“I’m not against actually helping organizations help themselves,” Coun. Brown said.

He suggested assistance should be aimed at local community groups that need it, rather than organizations simply taking advantage of discounted space. Coun. Brown also questioned whether the size of a fundraiser could be considered when deciding who qualifies.

Staff said existing eligibility requirements generally already focus on local organizations, but assessing a fundraiser’s finances could be difficult.

Another councillor indicated an amendment would be proposed when the policy returns to remove the sentence excluding fundraisers.

The disagreement was left for that future debate. Council did not approve a change to the exclusion at the committee meeting.