REPORT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE – FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

FROM:

Andy Taylor, Commissioner of Corporate Services

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Fuwing Wong, Manager of Financial Planning

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2005-01-23

 

 

SUBJECT:

Grants Sub-Committee Allocation of Celebrate Markham Grants for the First Quarter of 2006

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled, “Grants Sub-Committee Allocation of Celebrate Markham Grants for the First Quarter of 2006” be received;

 

And that the $31,000 of the 2006 Celebrate Markham grants budget be allocated to the three programs outlined on Table 1 of page 2;

 

And further that the $31,000 be funded from the Celebrate Markham account 220-220-7802.

 

PURPOSE:

To obtain approval to allocate $31,000 of the total $211,800 Celebrate Markham grants budget to initiatives/events that occur in early 2006.

 

BACKGROUND:

Celebrate Markham grants are funds provided to community groups/organizations that enhance and promote the Town, and are committed to building the community by celebrating the artistic and cultural uniqueness of Markham.

 

On June 14th, 2005, Council approved a Grants and Sponsorships Guideline that included an outline of the Celebrate Markham grants allocation process as follows:

 

·        The level of funding for the Celebrate Markham grants is set during the Business Planning/Budgeting process.

·        After the Budget is approved by Council, the Grants Sub-Committee convenes to allocate funding amounts for individual Celebrate Markham events.

·        For the few Celebrate Markham events that occur early in the year, the funding levels are to be determined during the Budget process.

 

There are three Celebrate Markham programs included in this report that occur in the first quarter of 2006 and have made requests to the Town for funding (see Table 1 on page 2).  It is anticipated that the budget will be approved by Council in February, 2006 so the allocation of the three programs is being brought forward in this report for approval.  The programs have been reviewed by the Grants Sub-Committee and are recommended by the Committee for Council approval.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The 2005 Budget for Celebrate Markham grants was approved at $207,500.  Appendix A outlines the 2005 allocation of the $207,500 Celebrate Markham budget as well as the actuals.  Proposed in the 2006 Budget is a total increase of $4,300 to the Celebrate Markham budget ($4,000 to the York Region Celebration of the Arts and $300 increase to the Senior’s Extravaganza).  This brings the total 2006 Celebrate Markham proposed budget to $211,800 ($207,500 + $4,300).

 

While the final allocation of the $211,800 Celebrate Markham funding will be done by the Grants Sub-Committee after Council approval of the 2006 Budget, the Grants Sub-Committee recommends $31,000 of funding allocations to the following three programs at this time:

 

TABLE 1

 

  Black History Month (funds required end of Jan. 2006)                          $1,000

  Chinese New Year Celebration (funds required end of Jan. 2006)          $5,000

  Character Community (funds required Mar. 2006)                               $25,000

  Total                                                                                                   $31,000

 

Following approval of the 2006 Budget, the Grants Sub-Committee will re-convene to allocate the balance of the funds for the 2006 Celebrate Markham Grants Budget.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

None

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

 

ATTACHMENTS:

APPENDIX A – Town of Markham Celebrate Markham Grants – Status as at December 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy Taylor, Commissioner, Corporate Services

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