Recreation and Tourism were the hot topics at the latest round of Kincardine budget talks.
At Wednesday’s Council meeting, each department head laid out their proposed budgets for 2012.
While the Tourism budget was being discussed, Councillor Jacqueline Faubert suggested a new funding formula be created.
Faubert feel it’s time to rethink the role of festivals in the community, by having a stable year to year funding source for these events.
She notes many municipalities set aside money each year for annual festivals.
Faubert adds organizers of annual events such as the Scottish Festival and Fish Derby could launch one big ad campaign to promote Kincardine as a whole.
The Recreation budget was also a point of interest, as the Davidson Centre expansion has created some staffing problems at the facility.
Recreation Director Karen Kieffer says the facility is now much bigger and far busier, so they’re adding a full time and part time maintenance worker — and likely some administrative staff as well.
Kieffer says that will also hopefully allow them to expand their hours.
Finally, Treasurer Steve Soychak adds they’ll next take a final look at the capital side of the budget, and see if the proposed tax rate increase of 3.4 per cent changes before they finalize it — likely in March.
