Local volunteer groups are waiting now to see if their applications for municipal funds will be approved.
Seventeen organizations applied for $106,150 in grants in aid, while the municipality has $70,000 in the budget.
Representatives from the groups met with town council last Tuesday.
“I think it went very well,” said Mayor Frank Armitage. “The presentations were very good and over the next couple of weeks we will be reviewing them and advising the applicants.”
While traditionally many of the same people apply for money each year, there are a few new faces around the table.
The Princeton Community Band is asking for $3,000 to cover the costs of a guitar amp, music scores and drum risers. As well the band would like $2,000 to represent Princeton in the 2018 Rogers Santa Claus parade in Vancouver.
Citing a budget that shows a $421 deficit, the Vermilion Forks Field Naturalists is requesting $1,000 to offset the costs of bringing guest speakers to its monthly meeting.
Princeton Family Services Society is seeking $4,000 to pay property taxes.
A letter from the society’s executive director Heather Eriksen states:
“We received grant in aid from the Town of Princeton to help with our property tax costs for several years and then I discontinued applying as I believed we could manage year to year.
“Now we are in need again of some aid from the town…as the costs of running the programs have increased with basic inflation but the funding remains the same over the past years.”
For the fourth year in a row the Princeton museum is asking for enough money to pay a full-time manager - $40,600 compared to the $26,000 the museum received last year.
John Allison Elementary School, which applied for funds for a new playground equipment in 2017 but was turned down, submitted a $10,000 request.
The school is proposing to create a $164,050 playground and has already raised $23,375.
Its application states there are “no reserve funds for playground equipment. As a school we have funds targeted for other things like books, desks and paper.”
The Rodeo Club, Princeton Kokanee Summer Swim Club, Princeton Ambassador Program and the Princeton Traditional Music Society are applying for slightly larger amounts than in past years.
Other applicants include:
The Princeton Seniors Drop in Centre - $6,500 for a commercial dishwasher.
Princeton Arts Council - $5,000
Halloween Family Fun Night - $3,000
Princeton Posse - $15,000.
Princeton Auxiliary Society $1,000.