St. Catharines councillors may get $5,000 annually for ward projects
Budget committee approves new policy for how councillors can distribute money for community initiatives
St. Catharines is setting up a new pot of money for councillors to use on one-time projects they deem worthy in their wards or beyond.
The budget standing committee approved a policy Monday for how to use the new $70,000 Council Community and Priority Fund.
The policy still has to be approved by council and is expected to come before it later this month.
If approved, councillors will be able to start using the funds immediately.
“We will be bringing information back each quarter with how the funds are being used,” Kristine Douglas, director of financial management services, told the committee.
“And then I think a review next year, because it is a new program, would be recommended.”
The annual amount of $70,000 was included in the 2024-2026 multi-year operating budget adopted in February.
Under the program, each of the 12 councillors would get $5,000 and the mayor $10,000 to distribute to community groups for activities and projects that meet eligibility requirements.
Those requirements were discussed by the committee Monday.
Groups would be awarded a minimum of $250 for initiatives that require one-time funding or a temporary source of funding within the current term of council.
Funds would be approved and processed through the mayor’s office.
Ineligible expenses would include property taxes, election-related activities or projects requiring commitment beyond the current term of council.
A clause that organizations be ineligible if they receive funding under any other city grant programs was removed by budget committee members.
St. Patrick’s Coun. Caleb Ratzlaff made the amendment to scratch that ineligibility clause, using the example of a neighbourhood group getting funding for a community garden that would not be eligible to receive money toward insurance for an Easter egg hunt.
“I just have a concern with that because if we are trying to encourage new events, grassroots organizations often have a hard time scheduling their entire year,” he said, adding if a new event comes up in the fall that benefits from the support, he would want to contribute.
Fellow ward Coun. Robin McPherson agreed.
McPherson and Ratzlaff have been working on an idea to get the plywood surrounding the former GM property on Ontario Street decorated with art, but under the proposed policy, any arts groups that receive funding from the city would be ineligible for any money from the councillors.
“If we remove this clause, there’s still an approval process. So it’s not like we’re just going to be out there spending cash and throwing it everywhere,” she said. “I would support removing this clause at this point, especially if we’re revisiting it along the way.”
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) David Oakes said the ineligibility clause was put forward as an attempt to avoid a double dipping scenario. But ultimately, he said the determination of what projects are eligible is meant to be at the discretion of councillors.
He suggested they use this year as a pilot project to see what some of the challenges are and then revisit the issue for a more robust, detailed policy.
If the policy is approved this year, councillors will be allowed to carry over any unused funds into 2025. In the future, they’ll have to spend them in the same calendar year.
Ward councillors will be able to pool their money to provide greater levels of support to a project. Councillors will also be allowed to use their $5,000 for projects outside their wards, but can’t transfer the money to another councillor.
They also can’t award money in an election year after the nominating period opens.
Eligible expenses will have to comply with other policies, including the code of conduct for elected officials, local boards and advisory committee, the municipal act and donation policy.