Council approves increased funding for two groups

Written by Stu Salkeld

Bashaw town council increased its funding for an important social agency in the community after the provincial government also boosted its funding. The decision was made at the Jan. 3 regular council meeting.

Town Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller provided a request for decision (RFD) on Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) funding for Bashaw & District Support Services (BDSS) along with the Bashaw Youth Foundation.

Fuller explained FCSS funds benefit both these organizations, but FCSS funds are part of an agreement with the Government of Alberta that offers 80 per cent of the funding from Edmonton while 20 per cent of the funding comes from local taxes.

As Fuller explained the provincial government boosted its FCSS funding in the spring of 2023, which therefore resulted in local municipalities boosting their funding to match the 80/20 split.

Fuller’s report stated in 2024 the Government of Albert plans to provide Bashaw with $25,658.93 which means the Town of Bashaw provides $6,414.73; neighbouring municipality Camrose County, with its own funding plus provincial funds, will total $31,625.89.

The CAO noted BDSS and the foundation already made budget presentations to council.

“They have requested the funds be paid to BDSS and it will be internally allocated as required,” stated Fuller’s report to council.

BDSS provides programs such as preschool, daycare and seniors support while the foundation operates the Bashaw Youth Centre.

During discussion the CAO stated that she believes FCSS funding is based on population.

Coun. Kyle McIntosh asked if the same information had been presented to Camrose County and if the town allocates funds on behalf of the county.

Fuller responded the funding and programs will be operated with similar practices and processes as previous years as far as she was aware.

Councillors unanimously approved increasing the town’s FCSS funding share.

Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review

About the author

Stu Salkeld

Stu Salkeld, who has upwards of 28 years of experience in the Alberta community newspaper industry, is now covering councils and other news in the Stettler region and has experience working in the area as well.

He has joined the ECA Review as a Local Journalism Initiative Journalist.

Stu earned his two-year diploma in print journalism from SAIT in Calgary from 1993 to ’95 and was raised in Oyen, Alta., one of the communities within the ECA Review’s coverage area.