Just what community groups should a municipality provide funding for? And to what level?
It is not an easy question to answer. For instance, Woodlands County relies heavily on its not-for-profit groups to maintain the majority of its recreational facilities. Everything from community halls, campgrounds, ball diamonds to a curling rink and ice arena. And for their efforts, they are eligible for grants that cover up to 50 per cent of capital projects and 90 per cent of the cost of utilities and administration. Community groups can also submit for reimbursement insurance, maintenance, and janitorial costs to a 75 per cent level.
Council does this because it would cost the taxpayer more if the county had to provide the service. And more than likely they are right.
However, what about the community groups that are not attached to the county’s infrastructure? Specifically, I am thinking about The Woodlands Express — a community newspaper based in Fort Assiniboine and is run by volunteers and is published nine times a year and distributed to county residents.
At one time the paper was self-sufficient, but for the last number of years, they have relied on a grant from the county to keep running.
The purpose of the paper, from how I understand it, is mainly to let area residents know what is going on in their individual communities, more specifically about upcoming events. At this point, there are other avenues to accomplish this, one of them being this very paper.
Yes, I know a lot of the time, we ask that these groups put in an ad and that costs money, but so does putting out a paper, as The Express’ steering committee is well aware of.
And that is why, at one time, from what I understand, groups were charged to put in their notices. I also understand the county often utilizes the paper to pass on information regarding its programs and services. However, they already have an avenue to do this, the county’s newsletter, The Communicator.
The question is should they continue to get the grant? Currently, the paper receives $15,000, but the steering committee recently went before council saying next year they will need to bump the amount to $20,000 if The Express is to continue in its present format.
Is it money well spent? Could the funds be put to a better use? And should county ratepayers be subsidizing something that already exists in the private sector?
All valid questions and ones that county ratepayers, counsellors, and The Express’ steering committee need to ask themselves.
