Town council opts to keep considering community grants

Amherstburg Town Hall.

A motion to get a report on the possible phasing out of community grants in Amherstburg will not go forward.

Town council rejected a motion from Councillor Molly Allaire that would have seen administration be directed to prepare a report outlining options for phasing community grants out of the municipal operational budget over a five-year period, including proposed timelines, financial impacts, and a communications plan for informing previous and current grant recipients; and that this report be brought back to council for consideration. 

(The notice of motion was originally raised during the Dec. 9 budget deliberations. See related story on Page 17.)

Allaire said she donates to many of the charitable causes and non-profits that the town gives community grants to and said if people want to donate, they can do so as well. She said the community grant program as part of the annual budget deliberations are using taxation dollars, and that requests have been getting larger.

Allaire said she understands many groups have had difficulties and that phasing out grants over five years would lessen the impact. While there are people in need, Allaire added only one group got their request in on time during budgets and the other requests came in after the deadline.

Not every municipality has community grants, she added, and non-profit organizations still find ways to operate in those communities.

“I’m just asking for a report,” she said. “It’s not a debate we need to do right now.”

Councillor Diane Pouget opposed the motion, stating the town should support people in need in Amherstburg.

“We’re talking about our most vulnerable people in our community who have a great need,” said Pouget. “We are known as a loving and caring community.”Food bank visits have grown, she added, and so have requests for service at the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission. She also pointed out the work of Christ Church in maintaining a local cemetery as well as the work of others in serving the town. 

“I would not agree to take money from these valuable groups,” said Pouget.

Councillor Peter Courtney said he understood where Allaire was coming from with her motion but ultimately opposed it.

“I think when the town uses taxation dollars, it becomes part of the business model,” he said.

Courtney added he also understood Pouget’s concerns, and that it was roughly $50,000 out of the budget of millions. He also pointed out only one non-profit group actually met the deadline to apply, and hoped they would “make sure they followed the rules and procedures” in the future.

Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb asked how this fits in with a “Strong Mayor” budget, with clerk Kevin Fox stating that while the mayor has the power under provincial legislation to put things in and out of a budget, town council can still make recommendations.

“I’ve never been comfortable with municipalities making charitable donations,” he said. 

Gibb added that he also was not comfortable telling the next council what to do, when this council completed its final budget and it didn’t claw back on community grants.

“I don’t see the value of getting a report when we’ve completed our last budget of the term,” said Gibb, who opposed.

Councillor Don McArthur was also in opposition, stating while there is debate on community grants each year, it is still a smaller portion of the overall budget. He said there are choices with taxpayer dollars in every decision town council makes.

The community grants help organizations keep functioning, he said, and those organizations serve the town.

“Do other municipalities do it? No. Does Amherstburg do it? Yes. I’m proud Amherstburg does it,” said McArthur.

Mayor Michael Prue noted the County of Essex is funding the new mega-hospital and also works to alleviate homelessness, both things the province looks after overall. He believed such contributions are “a part of being in office” and that while he hears from some about giving taxpayer dollars to charity, it is a good thing overall.

“I also believe you should lead with your heart before you lead with your head,” he said. 

The amount of the budget that would be saved by eliminating community grants would be roughly 0.16 per cent, and Prue said he would rather find savings elsewhere than cutting community grants.

“I’m not willing to save the money there,” he said.

The motion to get a report to see what phasing out community grants failed 5-1, with only Allaire in support. Councillor Linden Crain was not in attendance at the meeting.

Town council opts to keep considering community grants

By Ron Giofu