The crowd listens as Coun. Frank Costa, finance committee chairman, delivers his 2015 budget address at Summerside City Hall on Thursday night.
And hardest hit is East Prince Seniors Initiative, a non-profit organization that provides programming for seniors in the city.
Last year, the non-profit organization was allocated $30,000 through the city’s community grants program, which provides money, following an application process, to select non-profit organizations and groups. But, as it was outlined in Thursday night’s budget, the organization won’t receive city grant money in 2015.
“We think there is an opportunity out there for certain organizations that may not have received full funding that there may be some partnerships they can pursue, such as East Prince Seniors Initiative,” said Rob Philpott, the city’s finance director.
He added the hope is East Prince Seniors Initiative and the Age Friendly Initiative, which saw its grant go from $2,698 last year to $12,000, can work together.
“That was the approach that council took — to see if there were any partnerships that could be leveraged during the whole process,” added Philpott, who said this year the city received $775,000 in funding requests.
“We only have so much money to work with.”
In 2014, the City of Summerside dolled out $402,373 through its community grants program. This year, that number dropped to $380,000.
Coun. Frank Costa, finance committee chairman, said more groups were looking for more money, making for tough decisions during pre-budget preparations.
“We set a target of about $400,000 because we thought that would be manageable in the overall budget of the city,” said Costa. “We did have close to twice as much asked. In some cases we felt the asks weren’t really relative to the municipality being responsible for and, in some cases... we couldn’t meet their ask level.
“It was just trying to stay within that framework of $400,000.”
Holland College, given $20,000 in 2014, isn’t receiving grant money this year. Bedeque Bay Environment Association, which received $2,000 last year, and Parkview Seniors, allocated $1,000 in 2014, are also off the list.
The P.E.I Association of Newcomers, given $5,000 in 2014; the St. Eleanors Lions Club, $1,624; and the Lest We Forget Community Veterans group, which had received $7,500 in 2014, are all not being funded through the grant program.
Groups and organizations not funded last year and receiving grants in the 2015 budget include Tourism Summerside, which is getting $25,000; the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club, $5,000; and the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. and Eptek Art and Culture Centre, each receiving $2,500.
The biggest grants went to the College of Piping, at $56,000; the Harbourfront Theatre, at $120,000; and Generation XX, whose funding increased from $27,500 to $30,000. The Boys and Girls Club’s grant of $25,000 remains the same.
The city’s budget at a glance:
— No property tax increases
— Water/sewer rates increase two per cent
— $47-million budget for 2015; $45 million in 2014
— General government $21 million; utility budget $26 million
— 20th consecutive general fund balanced budget
— User fees/lighting charges for all outdoor rec facilities eliminated again
— Pre-school skates at CUP continue to be free
— $73,000 to Downtown Summerside to supplement Business Improvement Levy
— $3.5 million from general revenues on capital improvements
— $600,000 for curbs and sidewalk reconstruction
— $354,000 on new equipment/infrastructure for fire/police services
— Includes $200,000 for two new fire trucks
— Surplus of $5.3 million in 2014
— Electric utility $1.1 million surplus
— Water utility $175,000 surplus
— Sewer utility $133,000 deficit; higher than projected sewage treatment costs
— General fund surplus $807,000; spending less on staff wages
— $2.6 million to public works for streets and sidewalks
— $2.7 million to run parks and recreation facilities/programs
— More than $4.5 million for police/fire protection
— $386,000 for arts heritage/cultural activities
— $641,000 for economic development, 20 per cent more than 2014
— $380,000 in grants; $400,000 in 2014
— $9 million capital spending
— Includes $1.4 million for water system, $1.4 million sewer (2014 — $1.3 million), $1.3 million paving, $300,000 replacement sidewalks (2014 — more than $600,000)
— Capital improvement plan for next 10 years to be released later
— $500,000 towards development of Eco Park
— Long-term general fund debt to drop to $36.7 million by end of 2015
— Decrease of $700,000; 8th consecutive reduction
— Mayor/council honorariums include two per cent cost-of-living adjustment.
