Town of Banff

Council to Meet With YWCA Over Deficit

MARCH 18, 2011
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BANFF, AB – Town of Banff council have asked to meet with the board of directors of the Banff YWCA to discuss that organization’s financial problems and the threat to close the women’s shelter. Council first learned about an operating deficit and the possibility of closing the shelter to address it at their regular meeting Monday, March 14.

“The community and Council have a long history of supporting the Y,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen. “We are a caring community.” In addition to Parks Canada, the governing authority of the day, giving the YWCA the building it occupies in 1987, she said, the town automatically gives the charity a property tax exemption every year, which in 2010 was the equivalent of $121,000 grant. The town also provided $200,000 in a capital grant in 2007 for expansion, and offered to secure a low-interest construction loan.

“Council believes the YWCA provides extremely valuable service to the community,” said Mayor Sorensen.
“We are shocked and dismayed to learn of the deficit and we’d like to sit down with the board and explore long-term solutions.” The mayor has contacted the Board chair to set up the meeting.

The executive director of the YWCA, Kerry-Lee Schultheis, informed council that the YWCA is considering closing the shelter to help offset the costs of the new waste utility, a consumption-based service initiated by the Town in January 2011. She asked council to exempt the YWCA from paying the utility, and reported the shelter costs $73,000 annually to operate.

At its current consumption level, the YWCA would pay $1,750 in 2011,  in quarterly payments of $437.50. The waste utility fee is being phased in over four years, so by the end of 2014, the YWCA would be paying approximately $7,000 per year for similar consumption levels. The YWCA can directly influence its fees by reducing the amount of garbage it produces.

The YWCA has not applied for help to fund the women’s shelter or for operations from the town’s community grant program for non-profits.

The date of the meeting has not been announced.

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MEDIA CONTACT
DIANA WALTMANN, MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECT: 403-762-1207  CELL: 403-431-2307
diana.waltman@banff.ca