Community groups across Guelph were granted their funding requests during the CIty of Guelph multi-year budget approval on Thursday.
Among the recipients will be the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition (GNSC), which had the biggest financial ask of the night, a bump in its annual funding of $246,600.
Council unanimously approved the funding request.
The funding will see the full $246,600 distributed to the GNSC using the city’s tax operating contingency reserve to phase this impact in over the next two years with a one-time reserve transfer of $150,000 in 2022.
Coun. Mark MacKinnon clarified that this motion will see the 2022 budget increase by $96,600, while the 2023 budget will increase by $150,000, but the GNC will receive all of their funding immediately.
Coun. June Hofland said everyone knows the value the GNSC brings and she was confident this is value for money.
Coun. James Gordon declared his intention to bring the motion forward regardless and questioned the phase-in money and how this will be distributed.
Another motion, which will work in a similar way, would see the Guelph Humane Society (GHS) receive an increase in the community benefits agreement totalling $150,000 in 2022 using the city's tax operating contingency reserve to phase this impact over a two-year timeline with a one-time transfer of $75,000 in 2022.
Coun. Cathy Downer made a motion to the amendment to separate the motion direction to use a portion to reserves to offset funding, which will see an increase in the community benefits agreement for the GHS totalling $150,000 for 2022.
Mayor Cam Guthrie said he agrees and supports the amendment, however, he was prepared to support the original motion as he wants to support the humane society.
The amendment passed 10-3.
The People and Information Network (PIN) is set to receive up to $120,000 for the city-funded by the tax operating contingency reserve to aid in volunteer checks.
Originally, PIN was asking council to commit $150,000 next year to cover the cost of police background checks for volunteers – something council agreed to for 2021 after free checks were dropped from the Guelph Police budget.
Guthrie, however, dropped the request down to $120,000 in the motion as to date in 2021 PIN has spent $102,000, giving Guthrie the opinion that the lower amount is more comfortable with him.
The motion passed 12-1.
Another $50,000 is being allocated for a court support worker provided through Stonehenge Therapeutic Community.
The motion passed 10-2.
In addition, Guelph Community Health Centre (GCHC) was approved for a one-time investment of $91,000 in 2022 to continue funding for the Welcome Streets Initiative, which employs two people who respond to the concerns of business owners in the downtown and help connect people with support services.
The motion passed unanimously.
