Council considers funding strategy

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - October 28, 2007

Grants could soon be available to groups in need but one Vernon politician is concerned that could turn into a free-for-all.The finance committee will recommend to city council that two reserve funds be set up at $75,000 each. One would be for community grants (capital projects) and the other for discretionary grants (emerging issues).Coun. Barry Beardsell supports the general direction but he is worried current and future council members won’t show restraint when it comes to handing out money.“I’m very nervous about it. It’s almost making the city into an outfit you appeal to for money. It’s almost becoming the United Way,” he said. “Everyone’s hands (on council) seem to go up so readily. Financial care is going out the window.”

Coun. Juliette Cunningham defends the recommendation to council, saying financial requests are becoming common.“It’s to address the issue of them not having any other source of funds,” she said of non-profit organizations.Among those recently were a disabled elevator for the Vernon Curling Club and the Vernon Animal Care Society’s spay/neuter program for feral cats. “We’re getting all of these requests so this will be a more efficient and equitable way to deal with them,” said Cunningham.That is also the view of Coun. Patrick Nicol, the finance committee chairman.“I hope it will be a solid policy,” he said.

Under the proposed policy, organizations cannot seek assistance from the city if it has already received funding from other agencies such as the Greater Vernon Services Committee.There will also be deadlines for applications to be submitted by, and grants will be for one year only. “People can’t continue to come back for these grants in terms of the discretionary fund,” said Nicol.The recommendation must still be debated by council.

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Don Quioxote Note: Council resisted the temptation to tie the balances in these funds to a percentage of Casino revenues on yearly basis. Naturally they could only contemplate the existing casino revenue of $1.763 million as the extra revenue flowing from 200 additional slot machines could not be used as it would seem to prejudge their voting intentions on the Casino expansion and relocation before Public input on Nov. 13. The $75,000 in each fund is proposed to be split up in quarterly amounts to be distributed.

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EDITORIAL Grants policy a good idea

It’s easy to understand Coun. Barry Beardsell’s concerns about the City of Vernon potentially setting up a grants function for community initiatives. After all, it is taxpayers’ money being used and the politicians must realize they can’t meet the needs of everyone with their hand out. However, there’s long been a need for a firm, equitable policy to cover financial requests put before council. In many cases, the items put before council are truly grassroot ones where rank-and-file citizens roll up their sleeves and take on matters that impact the entire community. Two examples are dealing with the feral cat and rabbit populations.But volunteerism isn’t enough, and these efforts require cold, hard cash to continue. There is no ability to turn to the federal or provincial governments for help, so the only other opportunity is city hall. And that makes sense because the pressure is taken off the city to take direct action if non-profit groups are willing to do so.

Under the proposal, groups will be told that there is a limit to the taxpayers’ generosity. Primarily, there would be deadlines in which to submit requests and grants would only be for one year. Money wouldn’t be available if assistance has already been provided by agencies such as Greater Vernon Services.Despite the rules, hopefully the politicians will show some restraint as Beardsell has urged. Just because there is $150,000 at play, doesn’t mean it all has to be doled out.In the end, though, the grant function being proposed by the finance committee is a positive step.It shows that city hall isn’t just about collecting taxes, but reinvesting some of that money in the community it serves.