Three groups serving children asked the city for more funding but were told grant money had run dry

Three groups serving children asked the city for more funding but were told grant money had run dry.
LONDON CITY BUDGET: Cash pleas fall on deaf ears
Jonathan Sher, City Hall Reporter
The London Free Press
November 10, 2005

Three London groups that serve children made a pitch for money at city hall yesterday, but were told next year's well had run dry.

CHECKING OUT CHESS: One-year-old Alexandra Almeida of Kitchener plans her next move on the chess board at the London Regional Children's Museum yesterday. The museum was one of several community groups making pitches for municipal funding at city hall yesterday. CREDIT: THE LONDON FREE PRESS/ Sue Reeve

Merrymount Children's Centre, which helps families in need, the Thames Valley Children's Centre, which serves the disabled, and the London Regional Children's Museum were warmly greeted by politicians, but that didn't obscure one cold fact.

There is only $500,000 in the capital grant budget for next year and every penny has already been committed.

"We're fully committed in 2006," finance boss Vic Cote told board of control at the first of several meetings seeking public input on the 2006 operating and capital budgets.

Prior commitments mean the city next year will give $200,000 to Mission Services of London, $100,000 each to the Salvation Army and the Glen Cairn Community Resource Centre, and smaller amounts to Women's Community House, the London Food Bank and Merrymount -- which now wants an increase.

In previous years, city council has granted money in excess of $500,000, for example, giving $12.8 million to London hospitals, $5 million to the University of Western Ontario and $2.5 million to Fanshawe over a number of years. Next year those commitments will cost taxpayers $3.54 million.

But their appeared to be little appetite to spend more next year, even among council members who spoke glowingly about the children's groups.

"Are these necessary to make a good community? Absolutely," Coun. Cheryl Miller said.

But funding should be held off until 2007, when the capital grant budget has $400,000 available, she said.

Groups that don't get money next year shouldn't take that the wrong way, London Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco said.

"Whether or not we can help (Merrymount) again or not is not indicative of how much we value (the service)," she said.

City staff have proposed a budget of $858.2-million that includes $611.3 million in operating costs, an increase of about 9.2 per cent or $52 million.

Along with hikes to its water and sewer budget, the increases would add $104 to the tax bill of a home assessed at $152,000 and see a $50 hike in water and sewer fees.

Among the groups making presentations yesterday:

- Merrymount Children's Centre asked for another $50,000 a year for four years.

- Thames Valley Children's Centre wants $300,000 a year for five years to add a third floor to its building to serve a growing number of disabled children, who last year numbered almost 6,000.

Also seeking funding at city hall yesterday were:

- The Children's Museum, which requested $250,000 to reverse sagging attendance by improving exhibits and marketing.

- The Boys' and Girls' Club of London, which wants $450,000 over three years to complete cleanup and construction of the Aquaplex.

- The Palace Theatre, which wants $250,000 over three years for capital upgrades.

- The Lambeth Community Recreation Council, which asked for $2.63 million to finish its arena redevelopment.

- The Urban League of London, which presented its priorities, noting that this year and last, city spending has increased five times as fast as assessment.

- A volunteer group called the Friends of the London Public Library, which asked for $100,000 for the library to add to collections that lag behind the Ontario average.

- The South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, which serves a population that includes many immigrants, asked for $30,000 to hire two part-time co-ordinators so programs can be maintained.

- The London Arts Council, which asked for $60,000 to enhance operations and fund a program that aids artists, fosters art appreciation and improves access to the arts.

- The London Community and Neighbourhood Resource Centre Network, which wants $10,621 for its four community centres to bring the network back in line with 2003 funding levels.

- Community Living London. which wants an undetermined amount to subsidize bus passes for 160 to 170 people on the Ontario Disability Support Program.