Local non-profits will receive 100 per cent of their city grant funding in 2020 up front, despite opposition from Mayor Cathy Heron due to her uncertainty about the province’s funding contribution next year.
On Monday, city council approved $411,134 in Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) grants, a 41-per-cent reduction compared to the 10-year average. Last year, the city gave out FCSS grants in the amount of $602,058.
The significant drop is mainly due to the Community Information and Volunteer Centre (CIVC) receiving none of the nearly $200,000 it requested, which an administrative report said is due to rapidly declining use of CIVC.
All other non-profits received the funds they requested in 2020, including the Community Village and Food Bank, Family Resource Centre, Seniors Association and Stop Abuse in Families (SAIF) Society.
CIVC chair Dawn McVittie declined to comment on what the future holds for the non-profit, which administers the Sidekicks Mentoring program, similar to Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and connects residents to volunteer opportunities.
When asked what the plan is for the Sidekicks program by Coun. Sheena Hughes, St. Albert FCSS manager Connie Smigielski said the city is working with CIVC to “transition the programming.” She added CIVC will be coming back with a funding request at a future date.
St. Albert corporate communications manager Cory Sinclair declined to elaborate on plans for other CIVC programing and referred the Gazette to CIVC.
Budget uncertainty
Expressing uncertainty about Alberta’s spring 2020 budget, Heron asked council to consider only releasing 50 per cent of the suggested FCSS dollars to non-profits, until council has a peek at the Alberta government’s next budget. That would go against funding recommendations brought forward by the Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC).
Heron said she is not questioning the value local non-profits provide, but it is a matter of being “prudent.”
“We need to actually look at every dollar of our St. Albert residents’ (taxes) that we’re spending, and we need to make sure it’s at the right time and the responsible way,” she said. “So, let’s give them 100 per cent of the CSAC recommendations, in the spring. Let’s give them most of it, today.”
St. Albert’s FCSS budget is funded based on an 80-20 funding split with the province, with the province contributing 80 per cent funding for all city FCSS programs, including internal programming.
If the Alberta government is going to be making cuts – so far, they have left FCSS funds untouched – Coun. Wes Brodhead said municipalities cannot be “backstopping” the provincial budget.
Coun. Ken MacKay said he would not support withholding half of the funds until 2020.
“I’m certainly not going to support this, because I don’t think I have enough information on how this will impact the four agencies and I think it causes some unnecessary concern and angst,” he said.
Alberta press secretary for the Ministry of Community and Social Services Kassandra Kitz said in an email the government values the important role FCSS plays in creating strong communities, when asked about FCSS funding levels in 2020.
“We are maintaining FCSS funding at $100 million in 2019. Any future budgeting decisions will be made in a thoughtful and fiscally responsible manner,” she said.
A motion by Coun. Natalie Joly to release 50 per cent of FCSS funding now, and then re-evaluate in the spring, was defeated 4-3 with Heron, Brodhead and Joly voting in favour.
A subsequent motion to provide the full recommended funds passed, with Heron opposed.
Council also approved outside agency operating grants during their meeting, and 10 non profits received a total of $594,738.
CIVC was also denied a grant under the outside agency grant program.
New to the program this year, St. Albert & District Further Education received $23,474.
