Wellington North Council approved spending more than $83,000 on grants and donations to various organizations despite the misgivings of at least one council member.
Council voted to advance more than $61,000 in grants to various organizations in cash donations and fee waivers. Another $22,000 will be deferred to the 2025 budget.
Councillor Sherry Burke expressed concern that the Grants and Donations Community Development Program has gone from just under $40,000 in requests to more than $83,000 in five years.
“I know we tried to be very generous right after the COVID pandemic to help get groups and organizations back on their feet,” Burke said. “But every year the total requests that we are being asked to grant to these groups and organizations continues to increase.”
Mayor Andy Lennox told council, staff will be looking at the program for next year to ensure it meets the goals and objectives council originally intended.
“This program has kind of grown organically into something larger than we maybe intended,” conceded Lennox. “I think it would be worthwhile and I know it’s part of the recommendation that we look at the program for 2025 and I think we need to be clear about what some of our goals and ideals are that we want to support.”