“I know all those organizations and groups who need money are doing an excellent job for the community,” insisted Parksville councillor Al Greir, but it is fiscally irresponsible to give them grants.
He introduced a notice of motion this week to discontinue grants-in-aid and all financial assistance to groups and organizations — except Beachfest and Canada Day.
Mayor Chris Burger pointed out it’s a lot more complicated than the city’s grant-in-aid program.
City director of finance Lucky Butterworth, who wasn’t at the meeting, said there is no simple way to determine the kind of grants Greir was referring to, pointing out the city gives the community centre $200,000 a year and $40,000 a year towards the chamber of commerce operation of the visitor centre, which could be considered grants.
The city provides funds in numerous budget areas including accessibility, rebate and upgrade programs like replacing old toilets and funds towards things like the Brant festival, high school scholarships and arts council grants.
Grier’s motion wasn’t received well by the other councillors. Burger said the grant-in-aid program only costs the city $5,000 a year and goes to a lot of valuable groups.
“A common complaint is that there’s nothing to do here,” said coun. Peter Morrison, “this would be thumbing our nose at people looking to bring events to town.”
Coun. Marc Lefebvre said 90 per cent of the grants go to social service groups and lower income people would be disproportionately hurt by the cuts.
“This council is very conservative, I don’t think we’re spending money willy nilly,” said coun. Sue Powell, who often verbally spars with Greir over spending on community projects.
She said these grants are about recognizing the volunteers and people of the community who made the community what it is.
“As a business man I’m surprised you don’t recognize the ROI (return on investment),” said Carrie Powell-Davidson who said she was offended by Greir’s use of the term hand-outs.
Bill Neufeld didn’t say which way he’d vote, but took up Greir’s argument, saying he’s been involved in many community groups over the years and they always raised their own funds.
“Any group that can’t survive without $200 isn’t much of a group,” Greir has said in the past.
Despite his rallying against some grants, Greir has asked council for funds or aid-in-kind several times including $5,000 for the Cyclone Taylor Cup, the German Ju Jutsu Centre’s free use of the city-owned building on McVickers Street and the donation of a city lot to Habitat for Humanity.
Grants-in-aid are dispersed twice a year. In March 2011, council had a $2,500 budget. They gave grants of $100 to $500 to 11 groups including Ballenas dry grad, the Association for Community Living and the Lions Club.
Aside from the grant-in-aid program, Greir said he’d like cut what he called $47,000 a year in grants, though he wasn’t clear on which ones.
He repeated that “these groups do a great deal for the community,” but argued that with the state of the world economy and expensive city projects on the horizon, council has to stay focused on their mandate of maintaining infrastructure and stop handing out money to community projects and groups.
Greir’s notice of motion will be formally considered at an upcoming meeting.
