The Town of Smithers is revising their grant in aid policy on how to fund non profit organizations.
he new policy would fund regularly arts and cultural groups, leaving out miscellaneous grants from the proposed ‘funding external organizations’ policy.
Mayor Taylor Bachrach says they don’t want to send the message that the town is in the business of making miscellaneous community grants.
“So that those organizations that we see as core to the community (like) the arts and culture organizations and the RCMP Auxiliary -(they)can expect stability and a bit of predictability in their funding,” says Bachrach.
The revised policy will streamline the annual funding for those groups with CPI increases, so they don’t have to ask council every year.
“In the end council decided to leave (CPI increases) in the policy…I think that’s good for the organizations…I think increases above that are going to have to be justified with council.”
Staff was directed to revise the policy, bringing it to the next council meeting.