Community grants for Motueka less than other wards

October 7th, 2011
[by David Armstrong]

The list of Community Grants recipients for 2011 from the Tasman District Council suggests that the Motueka ward received less than its ratings-based share for funds for community programmes.

The annual allocation, commonly known as "Grants from Rates", awarded a total of about $167,000 in nine categories to a total of 109 groups throughout the district. Of that, about $17,300 went to 13 Motueka groups and around $89,700 went to 66 groups from specific other wards.

The remainder of almost $60,000 went to 30 organisations which operate throughout the district or groups which this writer is unfamiliar with and therefore could not be counted in the tally for other wards.

This suggests that, while the Motueka ward provides around 25 percent of the rates income for the council, it was awarded about 16 percent of the grants to specific wards, though it also would receive a proportional benefit from recipients operating district-wide.

An indication of funds distribution if district-wide projects are included can be gained by adding 25% of the $60,000 (granted to group operating over all of the Tasman district) to the Motueka figures and 75% of it to the other areas. This would suggest (very roughly) that 19% of the grant dollars will benefit Motueka (which provides 25% of the rates to fund them) and 81% will benefit other wards.

This may or may not indicate a bias against Motueka. It is just as likely that proportionately fewer Motueka organisations applied for funds and that many local organisations need to be helped to be more aware of funds available and how to apply. However, Motueka Online does know of three Motueka groups which did apply and were turned down.

Perhaps it could be a worthwhile role of our community board to work with local organisations and groups to apply for funds and help them with the paperwork.

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