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City ups community grant money

Terrace's city council decided last week it would increase the amount available to community groups in the form of grants.

The city is readying to spend $30,000 more on community grants and services this year compared to last.

That amount is coming from two sections of city spending — one is for community grants and the other money it pays out for services delivered on its behalf.

At a budget meeting last Wednesday, Feb. 28, council upped grants by $14,500 more than was first recommended by staff going into budget talks, and $6,400 less to service providers.

If the budget becomes official as it’s written now, grants will have gone up by $11,500 and fees for service by $17,800 compared to last year.

And grant requests this year came in $44,800 higher than last, with service providers asking for $24,000  more.

“Given that we had an increased ask of about $50,000 more, [giving more money] doesn’t seem like much of an issue,” said councillor Bruce Bidgood at the meeting.

“Just be cognizant that the $10,000 isn’t a huge issue, it’s the (accumulated) $50,000 for continuing years,” said city finance director Ron Bowles.

For each $100,000 the city increases its overall budget, that translates to a one per cent tax increase.

For city grants, those who applied that made the cut include: Terrace Search and Rescue at $9,000; Volunteer Terrace at $7,500; the Skeena Valley Model Railroad Association at $685; Riverboat Days grant, insurance and fireworks at $15,500; city parade expenses at $4,700; facility rental for Caledonia Senior Secondary School dry grad and prom at $3,797; Terrace and District Arts Council at $22,500; Greater Terrace Beautification Society at $500; Bread of Life Soup Kitchen at $1,000; My Mountain Co-op at $15,000; Terrace Little Theatre Society at $4,200; the Green Thumb Garden Society at $4,100 and Terrace Emergency Social Services at $5,000.

Those who didn’t make the cut include: Terrace Downtown Improvement Area festivals at $5,000; the Northern Health Addiction Program at $6,000 for rent assistance; the Kermodei Friendship Society at $5,000, Ksan House Society at $8,000; and $6,700 for a new dance floor at R.E.M. Lee Theatre.

In the service section, council approved $6,400 less than was asked for from the Terrace Museum Society at $70,000.

But there’s an organization being set up now, intended to help with increasing community money needs, that will get a share of gaming revenue from the city.

The Terrace Community Foundation was set by staff to get a $10,000 grant, but council freed up that money for others by pinning a percentage of gaming revenue to it instead.

The foundation will get $10,000 yearly from that, or a percentage of the surplus, whichever is higher.

Once the foundation is ready, interest off the principle amount in its account will go towards more community grants — intended to increase what’s available now.