M.D. of Taber adopts donations policy

By Heather Cameron
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

During the M.D. of Taber Council meeting on November 12 Administration spoke to Council regarding a Request For Decision regarding a proposed Donations to Community Organizations, Programs, Events & Activities Policy and Procedural directive. 

Administration explained to Council that this revised policy and procedural directive is intended to provide additional clarity and transparency surrounding the implementation of the policy in relation to the purpose, guidelines, procedures, corresponding roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities.

“This has been to Committee to the Whole in order to share feedback that we’ve received over the implementation of this policy over the last number of years,” said Bryce Surina, Director of Community Services for the M.D. of Taber.

The revisions to the policy, Administration explained, include the addition of Vauxhall and District Chamber of Commerce and Taber and District Chamber of Commerce being added to the policy statement, purpose and eligibility to ensure they are included in the policy. Vauxhall and District Chamber of Commerce exclusion to maximum funding $5,000 was also added, Administration explained, and Taber and District Chamber of Commerce exclusion to maximum funding $5,000 was added, in kind contributions are being acknowledged for reporting only at cost,  and Council discretion was added for the allocation of Reserve Funds. In addition to that, Administration explained, recommendations for providing additional rationale and in-person delegation for funding requests $5,000 or greater were included, questions were also added to donation applications to determine if an organization has previously received a donation under the policy and if so, additional information would be requested related to the degree of success, and a Procedural Directive was added outlining procedures used in processing donation applications. 

Administration stated that it is intentional that the policy remains flexible and said flexibility includes allowing multiple applications for a single entity in a given year, along with the ability to fund events for organizations that already receive operating funds from the M.D. of Taber through local recreation boards.

Administration’s recommendation to Council was that the M.D. of Taber adopt the proposed Donations to Community Organizations, Programs, Events & Activities Policy as presented effective January 1, 2025. 

A motion was ultimately made that the M.D. of Taber adopt the proposed Donations to Community Organizations, Programs, Events & Activities Policy as presented effective January 1, 2025 and the motion was carried.