The Town of Canmore’s affordability program has been so successful staff are asking for more resources to help process applications.
But at least one town councillor has concerns the municipality cannot afford the affordability program.
Councillor Vi Sandford put forward a motion at a finance committee meeting to remove a proposed $22,500 increase to turn a part-time administrator into a full-time one to help process applications to the affordability program.
Sandford said she is concerned the scope of the program is too broad and there are too many people applying to it, requiring staff time to process.
“I am sort of concerned about having a huge scope, a huge intake and demand,” she said. “And having to staff it when there are other provincial agencies that do this sort of work.”
The affordability services program launched on March 1 through Family and Community Support Services, which is part of the overall Community Enrichment department.
It provides lower fees, or fee waivers, for specific municipal services for residents that meet eligibility criteria like income qualifications, which is set at $31,500 for a single person, $62,400 for a family of two and residency is required.
Those services include Roam fare discounts for regional transit and free local transit, fee assistance for recreation programs at Elevation Place and services at artsPlace, access to the volunteer income tax program, food support and free access to workshops at FCSS and Parentlink.
More than 700 individuals have accessed the program so far, said general manager of municipal services Sally Caudill. She said the request for the additional staffing is the only request for increased service administration is making for the 2018 budget.
Caudill told council the affordability program has been “beyond successful” and there is greater uptake of the service than initially expected.
“What we are seeing as well is a bigger uptake in a host of other programs and services because of the affordability services program,” Caudill said.
As the program progresses, she said the scope of work is refined by staff to make sure eligibility requirements ensure they meet the intent of program – providing more affordability for full time Canmore residents.
FCSS staff process all the applications, all staff review them together, and meet with applicants to go through the process and help individuals and families access other programs and services available through other government agencies.
The time needed, however, has resulted in the request for the additional FTE funding under community enrichment’s budget and funded entirely by the Town of Canmore.
Sandford noted that FCSS is funded jointly by the province with an 80/20 split with the municipality. That means the increased proposed budget would only come from the municipality and not be split with the province – a sticking point for Sandford.
“There is a lot of layering going on here, so I am a little concerned about that,” she said. “Personally, I would like to see the $22,500 community enrichment salary taken out at this point because I think community enrichment has the option to refine that program and it has other avenues of using information and other processes we have put in place.”
Coun. Joanna McCallum opposed the motion to remove the budget change and reminded council its number one strategic priority over the last four years has been affordability for residents.
“I would really struggle to wrap my head around taking services away from the most vulnerable citizens in our community,” McCallum said. “It is an opportunity to interface with these citizens and help them connect with other services … so it seems strange to purposely underfund a wildly successful program helping people not just survive, but thrive.
“I am keen to find $22,500 in savings, but from a better place than on the backs of the working poor in Canmore.”
Changes to the 2018 operational and capital budget are not finalized until council approves them by motion, which is expected in December.
