Blind River City council has decided that any discussion about funding of local festivals by the municipality should first be reviewed by its festival committee.
A recent review by KPMG about how the municipality could save money in the way it provides service delivery, recommended council evaluate the way Blind River spends some $75,000 to fund festivals in the community, including community days and the winter carnival. The accounting firm urged council review the festival funding to determine whether cost savings could be found through a new funding model. It suggested council could save $75,000 annually through a cost review.
CAO-Clerk Kathryn Scott said she could provide a report to council on an alternative funding model along with regular reports on service delivery which would include other recommendations from KPMG.
Scott suggested her report could find other ways to fund festivals and would be based on discussions with members and volunteers involved in the various festivals and possibly come up with a recommendation to council on the matter.
“My recommendation is that prior to simply cutting the festivals that we do a more in-depth review,” Scott said.
Councillor Jim Dunbar said he had concerns about Scott providing a report to council without the festival committee having first been made aware of what KPMG was proposing.
“I’ve been a member of the festival committee for four years,” Coun. Dunbar said. “We’ve been probably close to two-and-a-half months, three months without a meeting and we haven’t had any staff representation either so I’m feeling like I’m kind of holding the bag with the other committee members.”
Coun. Dunbar suggested an amendment to the motion for a report.
The councillor suggested staff could meet with the festival committee at its meeting in October to discuss the KPMG review recommendation and what it might involve.
“I’d like to have a meeting with the festivals committee,” he added. “Just to explain.”
Coun. Steven Wells agreed with Dunbar’s amendment to the original recommendation by the CAO.
The October festival committee meeting will allow staff to discuss with the committee about what is being considered.
Coun. Wells asked for a breakdown of each festival and costs associated.
Director of Finance Sue Dent said the costs are contained in the budget for each festival and that she will make the information available to council.