Taxpayers could make up for event funding shortfall
Clearview Township taxpayers will be picking up the tab for events that have been denied provincial and federal funding.
The township was counting on grant money from Celebrate Ontario, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Canada 150 and Ontario 150 but all four grant applications were denied, leaving a $50,000 shortfall in the 2017 recreation programming budget.
Community culture and tourism coordinator Amanda Murray was before council on March 20 asking members to consider making up for the funding shortfall by allocating $25,000 this year and $50,000 next year.
Councillor Shawn Davidson put forward a motion, which was supported by council, to increase the funding up to $45,000 this year.
The decision is expected to be finalized when council adopts the tax bylaw later this spring.
Davidson wanted to bring the funding back to last year’s level to protect the community events, which were facing either a 50 per cent funding reduction, or even a total loss of funding if council does not agree to inject taxpayer dollars.
Non-municipal events would face reduced or no funding – the Stayner Kinsmen Duck Race ($1,600), Creemore Children’s Festival ($4,600), Copper Kettle Festival, organized by Creemore Springs Brewery, ($4,000) and the farmers’ markets in Creemore ($2,600) and New Lowell ($2,600).
Municipally run events are not facing funding cuts – Sunnidale Winterama ($1,500), Health and Leisure Expo ($1,000), Small Halls Festival ($25,000), Canada Day activities including a time capsule, geocache challenge, social media campaign and tulip blooming celebration ($4,200) and the Stayner farmers’ market ($5,000).
Two signature events – the Gathering of the Classics at Edenvale Aerodrome and the Great Northern Exhibition fall fair – do not receive any municipal funding.
“My thoughts are to maintain the funding year over year as it would not require any further increase to the budget,” said Davidson. “Staff will look closer at the various events and advise during 2018 budget process whether to maintain or if we can decrease funding.”
All events, if funding remains at 2016 levels, would receive $27,100 in funds, not including $25,000 already set aside for Small Halls Festival. Add another $19,000 in marketing costs. Murray reported staff has already found $7,000 in efficiencies but they will be looking for another $1,000 savings in order to come in on budget at $45,000.
Murray reported that between 2012 and 2016, Clearview Township has received $600,000 in grants
Murray told council Monday that the expectation should be that the events become self-sustaining.
“As the events and activities grow, the expectation is that more and more of these become self sustaining or generate revenue through other sources,” reported Murray… “administration will implement a new process based on best practices for events to receive funding.”
She said the plan also includes introducing requirements for reporting attendance and economic impact.
