Kelowna city council has allocated nearly $8 million in provincial grant funds to help address the financial turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday (Nov. 23), council approved the allocation of the $7.9-million COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant to support both losses this year and to be applied to the in-progress 2021 budget. The province is giving the cash to local governments to help deal with the increased operating costs and reduced revenues due to COVID-19, ensuring they can continue to provide necessary services.
The city is set to allocate $2.5 million to fund additional costs and revenue losses experienced throughout the year, including corporate preparedness planning and gaming revenues, as well as to support the Kelowna International Airport.
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The remaining $5.4 million will be applied to the citysa国际传媒檚 preliminary 2021 budget, allowing the city some more flexibility amid further expected costs and loss of revenue. Council will deliberate the 2021 budget on Dec. 10, 2020.
Coun. Luke Stack said he is sa国际传媒渁ppreciative and relieved the province has come through with these funds.sa国际传媒� Councillors also noted that they were expecting a grant around the $5-million mark, and were pleasantly surprised to learn the true amount.
sa国际传媒淭o see it coming in where it is is a huge relief to us as a city and to the taxpayers of our city.sa国际传媒�
Coun. Gail Given, however, was slightly less optimistic. While appreciative of the government grant, she noted the citysa国际传媒檚 significant losses through the COVID-19 pandemic, which she said this may not make up in full.
sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 think it should be viewed as a gift of a golden egg.sa国际传媒�
She thanked city staff for their work in preparing the 2021 budget, mentioning she knows itsa国际传媒檚 sa国际传媒済oing to be a tight one.sa国际传媒�
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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