Over 20 local organizations applied for a total of $210,532.33 during the grants and aid portion of budget deliberations Tuesday (March 23), causing frustration among council members who could only approve a fraction of the requests.
This year's uncharacteristic amount of requests for funds or to waive district fees is largely due to province-cut funding for several organizations, according to more than half of those representing the needy groups.
Coun. Corinne Lonsdale expressed her frustration over provincial cutbacks putting the burden on municipalities.
"We're made out to look like the bad guy," said Lonsdale.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman moved to write a letter to the province outlining the number of organizations asking for funds because of the provincial cutbacks. The motion was passed unanimously.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Kevin Ramsey said in previous years council budgeted approximately $100,000 for such requests. This year's requests ranged from $26,000 to finance the Squamish Pirates Swim Club to $1,000 to aid with promotion and advertising of the Whitewater Festival to $5,000 for the Squamish Hospice Society's patient support programs.
All councillors agreed that without a predetermined system, it was difficult to determine how to prioritize requests.
"There's no criteria to base these decisions on," said Coun. Rob Kirkham.
Lonsdale said she was leaning towards denying all requests since the municipality's meagre budget shouldn't be make up for the province's cutbacks.
Coun. Doug Race pointed out that after all the effort the organizations had gone to putting together and presenting their applications, not granting any money would be unfair. He said that if council wanted to head in that direction they could take the necessary steps to proceed with it next year.
Coun. Bryan Raiser agreed with Race and identified some requests he felt were essential.
"I think the Hospice, the Food Bank and the Women's Centre fall into a different category than the rest," said Raiser. "They are in their own safety net category."
His comment appeared to influence the others and Mayor Greg Gardner agreed, referring to those three as "essential needs."
Heintzman agreed but added that the Squamish Arts Council's application should be prioritized since council asked them to present all arts requests under one umbrella and they had obviously done so since no other arts requests were presented to council.
Raiser moved to consider the Hospice Society, the Food Bank, the Women's Centre and the Arts Council for funding, and was supported unanimously.
After suggesting several different amounts, monetary contributions were set at $5,000 for the Squamish Hospice Society, $15,000 for the Squamish Arts Council, $10,000 for the Howe Sound Women's Centre Society and $10,000 for the Squamish Food Bank Society. The motion was passed unanimously.
Lonsdale then said she wanted council to make it clear that this funding was not going to be given on a yearly basis and that the municipality "could not continue to make up for the province's lack of funding."
A total of $11,620.13 in requests to waive fees were also granted for events such as Logger Days, the Black Tusk Caledonia Highland Gathering, Howe Sound Secondary's grad and dry grad, Remembrance Day ceremonies, the Air Cadets ceremonial review, Relay for Life and the Squamish Youth Triathlon.
