The group responsible for the organization and delivery of police-based victim services program within District 69 ended up with surplus funds at the end of 2017.
Family Resource Association was awarded the contract to operate the program on Sept. 1, 2017 and the association has a grant agreement with the Regional District of Nanaimo (good for two-and-a-half years) but there is a clause in the contract that any surplus of funds should be returned to the regional district.
The association received $37,916.97 from the RDN and another $33,010 from the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. At the end of December 2017, the association reported a surplus of $10,400.87 from the RDN grant, and $6,125.37 from the ministry funding.
Chief executive officer Deborah Joyce informed the RDN and the ministry the surplus was mainly due to the late startup period of the program. She indicated that they do not anticipate this will be the case going forward.
While the RDN funding agreement requires any extra money to be returned, the ministry requires the association to come up with a proposal on how the funds will be used to enhance the program.
The association proposed to the ministry that the surplus funds be applied to provide additional hours of service (staffing) and also as promotion of the program in the community. Joyce proposed the extra funds from the RDN funding be applied the same way.
Currently, the association has two PBVS caseworkers at 30 hours per week. The plan is to increase hours to 35 per week for approximately 52 weeks.
The surplus money from the RDN funding is roughly equivalent to two months of funds. It was recommended by RDN staff the FRA agreement be extended for two months to allow the association to retain the funds.
