ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: February 15, 1999
Author/Local: J. Beresford / 7789
RTS No.00554

CC File No. 2201

TO:	Standing Committee on City Services and Budgets
FROM:	Director of Finance
SUBJECT:	1999 Funding Ceiling - `Other' Grants

RECOMMENDATION

THAT the 1999 funding ceiling for `Other' Grants be set as follows:

Major Facilities $3,250,900
`Other' Grants $ 450,000
Total $3,700,900

GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS

The General Manager of Corporate Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.

COUNCIL POLICY

Council policy on civic grants is presented in the companion report from the General Manager of Community Services and Corporate Services.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to submit the 1999 funding ceiling of the `Other' Grants budget for Council's approval.

BACKGROUND

City Council, on June 22, 1989, approved the recommendation of the Director of Finance to restructure the `Other' Grant funding into three separate categories: Major Facilities, Annual Recurring and Miscellaneous.

As part of the Budget Management plan approved by Council on October 22, 1998 to balance the 1999 budget, a reduction of $100,000 or 1% was proportionately applied across the major grant categories. The reduction has essentially eliminated the inflationary increase of 1% previously included in developing the 1999 budget estimates. Therefore the recommended 1999 grants budget is $3, 700,900 and remains at the 1998 level.

DISCUSSION

1. Major Facilities

The Major Facilities category provides funding to the four organizations which operate the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum/Space Centre Complex at Vanier Park. The grants to these organization are based on specific and on-going arrangements as stipulated in the operating agreements with the City. The ceiling also includes grant funding for Science World which was transferred from the Cultural Grant category in 1997.

The proposed grant ceiling includes funding of $3,250,900 for these organizations. The Major Facilities category excludes funding for the Vancouver Museum Commission ($200,000) which expired in 1998. Reports on the allocations of the 1999 grants will be submitted to Council at a later date.

1998 Ceiling 1999 Recommended

Major Facilities $3,250,900 $3,250,000
Vancouver Museum Commission $ 200,000 --
Total $3,450,000 $3,250,900

2. Other Grants

The Other Grant category provides funding for the Annual Recurring and Miscellaneous categories as well as for several specific programs including the Community Policing Offices. The `Other' Grants category excludes funding for the Vancouver Arts Stabilization Fund ($100,000) which expired in 1998.

Based on recent approvals and requests anticipated in 1999, it is proposed to establish a budget of $450,000 to provide for these grants in 1999. Reports on the allocation of these funds will be submitted to Council at a later date.

1998 Ceiling 1999 Recommended

`Other' Grants $450,000 $450,000
Vancouver Arts Stabilization
Program $100,000 --
Total `Other' Grants $550,000 $450,000

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