The board of directors of the 亚洲天堂 Lake Mountain Biking Association (BLMBA) has asked 亚洲天堂 Lake council to reconsider a motion passed on May 10, 2017.
According to the motion, effective July 1, 2017 village staff would be prohibited from undertaking administrative duties and administering funds of non-profit organizations.Many local non-profit organizations rely on the village to process their grant applications. By using the village to assist them, these organizations benefit from tax advantages. In a letter to village council, BLMBA president Guy Epkens-Shaffer said the BLMBA board was 鈥渟urprised鈥� to hear about the motion.
鈥淏LMBA has signed four contracts worth over $269,000 with the GST portion, totalling approximately $13,450; without the partnership with the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake, BLMBA will be forced to pay this amount,鈥� said Epkens-Shaffer.
鈥淲e recognize that providing this service for us must create some issues and encumbrances on village staff, but we are keen to continue this partnership and would be happy to work with you to alleviate any issues and to explore alternative options,鈥� he continued.
鈥淏LMBA respectfully requests that the council of the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake reconsider this decision in view of the dire financial consequences on our organization,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e would be happy to meet and discuss this further at your convenience.鈥�
The May 10, 2017 motion, which was unanimously approved by council, was carried against the advice from the village鈥檚 chief administrative officer and the 亚洲天堂 Lake mayor.
How do other towns assist non-profits?
According to Houston Mayor Shane Brienen, the District of Houston has a grant writer, who鈥檚 paid with a grant, to assist both the District of Houston and local non-profit organizations. However, Brienen said Houston does not undertake any other administrative duties nor administer funds of non-profit organizations.
Apart from grant writing, the Town of Smithers also does not provide any direct assistance to non-profit organizations.
鈥淲e do contract a grant writer through a grant program, and that grant writer is solely there to help non-profit organizations - she does not do grant writing for the town,鈥� explained Anne Yanciw, Smithers鈥� chief administrative officer. 鈥淏eyond that, we do not provide any administrative duties for non-profit organizations.鈥�
When asked why, Yanciw said that undertaking administrative duties of non-profit organizations is not in the local government mandate.
鈥淢ost local governments are so lean for staff that they do not have the capacity to provide such a service, and most taxpayers would be unhappy at a tax increase to provide that service,鈥� she said.
However, Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach said there are exceptions.
鈥淚f the organization is fundraising to build infrastructure that will be owned by the town, we occasionally hold the funds they raise and provide tax receipts to donors,鈥� he said.
Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen said Vanderhoof also has a grant writer to assist non-profit organizations. Thiessen said he sees this assistance as an important part of community development.
When asked if the municipality has administered funds of non-governmental organizations, Vanderhoof鈥檚 chief administrative officer Tom Clement said that while Vanderhoof has administered grant funding of some organizations, the municipality has never transferred funds in advance of these organizations actually receiving the grants.
