Victoria councillors made a mistake in reducing grant funding to the Greater Victoria Film Commission, says Coun. Jeremy Loveday, who wants his colleagues to reconsider the decision.
Under amendments to the city’s Strategic Planning Grant policy, endorsed by city councillors Thursday, grants are to be subject to a $25,000 cap.
If the policy is formally adopted by council, it would mean a $20,000 cut to the $45,000 grant the film commission received last year.
Film commissioner Kathleen Gilbert said the funding cut would be devastating. She said Thursday she will appeal to council to reconsider. The film commission conservatively brought more than $18 million to the Greater Victoria economy last year — mostly in Victoria and Saanich — while operating on a budget of $175,000, she said.
Loveday, who voted against capping the grants, said it makes no sense to reduce the film commission’s funding.
“I really think we need to be investing in the Grater Victoria Film Commission. They had a banner year in 2015. With $18 million into the local economy, these are the types of investments we should be making,” he said.
Loveday has introduced a motion to restore the commission’s funding.
“I think we need to be looking at the merit of applications rather than with a broad stroke putting a cap on it,” he said.
Councillors already have exempted the Coalition to End Homelessness from the cap, grandfathering its $100,000 grant.
Meanwhile, the city is about to launch a round of public consultation on its preliminary budget.
The draft financial plan includes a 2016 operating budget totaling $221 million and capital budget totalling $51.2 million.
The proposed budgets would result in an overall property tax increase of 2.31 per cent.
Combined with utility fees, the overall increase to the average residential property assessed at $518,000 would be about 2.05 per cent or $63. The increase for the average business assessed at $500,000 would be about 2.19 per cent or about $167.
The budget includes: • $10.4 million in transportation initiatives, including new bike lanes, crosswalks and pathways.
• Introduction of a new parking ambassador model replacing commissionaires for parking enforcement.
• Establishment of a new real- estate arm at city hall.
• Installation of an new universal washroom/change room at Crystal Pool and Fitness centre.
• $850,000 in improvements to Vic West Park skate park and playgrounds.
The city plans a town hall on the budget Jan. 21 which will be interactive and webcast live. The budget materials and an online survey are available on the city website, victoria.ca.
