Committee of the Whole Report - 2021 Grants in Aid

2021 GRANTS IN AID

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the Committee recommend that Council approve the 2021 grants in aid in accordance with Policy 1600-012 – Grants in Aid.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To consider applications for grants in aid in accordance with the Policy 1600-012 – Grants in Aid.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION:

The Grants in Aid policy (attached) provides guidance for the approval of grants in aid and suggests that an amount equal to 5% of View Royal’s share of the prior year’s funding received from Casino revenue be allocated to grants in aid. Casino revenue in 2020 was $394,366 and based on this the total 2021 grants in aid would be just under $20,000. The 2021-2025 Financial Plan presented at the February 2021 budget workshops projected a total of $50,000 for 2021 grants in aid and in future years, as an exception to the policy. The policy also suggests that Council may approve up to 95% of the annual funding to applications received by the deadline date of March 1, and the balance allocated throughout the remainder of the year. For 2021, based on a total grants in aid budget of $50,000 the amount to be allocated to applications received by the deadline is $47,500.

The accompanying grants in aid applications package includes all applications received to date with a summary and assessment by staff. In the interest of being more considerate of the environment, this 300+ page package is being provided electronically this year, with redacted phone numbers and email addresses.

Schedule A – 2021 Grants in aid applications summary lists the applications received to date, segregated by whether the organization applied for a grant in the last three years or is a new applicant. Each listed applicant is cross-referenced with the page number range containing the submitted application.

Note that not all 2020 approved grants were issued, due to the associated program/project being cancelled, reduced, or delayed because of COVID-19 restrictions. The total of all 2021 applications received by the March 1, 2021 deadline is $150,080 which represents an oversubscription of $102,580.

Schedule B – Prior recipients with no current year request lists organizations that received grants in the last two years but for which applications for 2021 have not yet been received.

Schedule C – Criteria and assessment describes the various criteria set out by the policy and staff’s assessment of each application based on the criteria.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:

The 2021-2025 Financial Plan includes a total of $50,000 for 2021 grants in aid as an exception to the Grants in Aid policy amount based on estimated prior year Casino revenue. If Council wishes to allocate grants in excess of this amount, a budget amendment that identifies the authorized amount and the source of funding is required.