A City of Powell River elected official has requested funds to promote arts and culture in the community.
Councillor Debbie Dee had requested $40,000 for a committee she proposed should be created with representation from a diverse range of arts groups. Originally she requested $20,000 for a part-time position to support the committee and $20,000 as leverage to pursue cost-sharing grants.
Dee said she didn’t think it was a lot of money to start with. “I do understand that this is going to mean potentially a half per cent increase on the tax requisition,” she said. “I feel comfortable saying that it’s worth it and I don’t think citizens of Powell River will mind spending their tax dollars on something like this.”
Councillor Jim Palm has proposed the creation of a sport and recreation council that would assist and support local sport and recreational organizations by seeking funding to hire a part-time coordinator.
The 2011 financial plan has proposed $20,000 for an arts and culture committee and $20,000 for a sport and recreation council.
Council has asked staff to keep a tax increase at 3.8 per cent for residential properties and one per cent for businesses. While the increase to the city’s operations budget required 3.5 per cent and one per cent increases on residential and business properties respectively, additional capital and other requests could push the tax hike higher.
Those items include: administration filing clerk to complete records management project, $30,000; increase in staff salaries at the Powell River Historical Museum and Archives Association, $14,814; wide area network lease payment, $18,600; emergency services building planning, $50,000; Provincial Emergency Plan equipment, $5,000; closed circuit TV installation at RCMP detachment, $25,000; arts and culture committee, $20,000; and sports committee, $20,000.
Staff presented three options to council at a budget meeting recently and council asked staff to find a way to reduce costs in other areas to support these additions.
