For anyone who has to run a raffle, bazaar, bingo or break-open lottery in Kincardine — they need to thank Mary Coates of the Kincardine Sunset Quilter’s Guild.
Kincardine council was considering raising the lottery licence fees from one per cent to three per cent of the prize board.
Although many groups expressed concern about the hike, it was Mary Coates’ Quilter’s Group that made a presentation to council that resulted in a hike of only a half-percent instead of the planned two.
Coates said her group and many groups like hers are made up volunteers who provide services to raise money for charities in the municipality.
She said in their case, a five thousand dollar quilt raffle would cost the vendor 150 dollars in licence fees with the proposed three per cent hike.
She says that would mean they would have to sell 75 tickets at two-dollars each before any profit is realized and that’s simply not a very good prospect.
Council was listening and was sympathetic to her arguments.
Mayor Larry Kraemer suggested that the lottery licence fees be raised to 1.5 per cent this year across the board which was approved.
Coates said afterwards, the mayor and council have made a really good decision.
