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Nipawin council chips away at budget with ‘fees for service’ decisions

Dec 13, 2017 | 6:59 AM

Nipawin town council continued budget preparations by finalizing ‘fees for service’ funding at Monday’s meeting.

Topping the list of funding requests from 14 Nipawin and area organizations was the town’s business improvement district (BID) group. The group asked for $117,000 in funding, but council agreed to $50,000. Chief administrative officer Barry Elliott said town staff has given the BID spending guidelines related to the funding.

“Things [like] providing confirmation they have significant support from the business community for their activities,” he said.

Elliott said council wanted support from 80 per cent of businesses in town by the end of 2018, but didn’t specify to northeastNOW if there would be further conequences of less support.

He added the BID has been productive. The group became a member of the Main Street Saskatchewan program, plus was influential in the development of the town’s square.

“In council’s review of the group, they determined it was prudent to provide funding,” Elliott said.

Council did not accept all the funding requests, but Elliott wouldn’t speak on the groups left out. He would say council approved funding for the Northeast Outreach Support Services in Melfort, Oasis Family Centre, and the Chamber of Commerce.

The money will be coming from the 2018 budget. 

 

clark.stork@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ClarkStork