The 2015 budgets for Initiatives Prince George and the Prince George Public Library were both unanimously approved with two per cent increases on Wednesday night.
The two organizations are among the three that rely on city funding for a substantial amount of their budgets. The third, Tourism Prince George, did not receive any increase to the $327,000 they received for 2013 and 2014.
The city's grant makes up one-quarter of their operating budget, said Tourism P.G. CEO Erica Hummel, and they "wont ask for it to [increase] for the next five years." Nearly two-thirds of the tourism agency's funds come from the hotel room tax.
The nearly $1.025 million IPG will receive next year will be leveraged for 36 per cent more money from other agencies, said CEO Heather Oland. Extra money is going to salaries and programming, but overall operating costs are going down by three per cent, Oland said.
The public library is receiving $3.745 million in 2015 and is using its extra two per cent to give staff a two-per-cent raise after years of static salaries as well as address a few material operational costs such as on-site security.
Even though it wasn't part of their operating budget, the discussion never strayed too far from talk of a new entrance for the Bob Harkins branch.
All capital projects will be discussed during next week's meeting on the 2015 budget, which begins at 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 in council chambers. During Wednesday afternoon's session, council voted to add an extra 15-minute public input opportunity at the beginning of the next session in addition to the one already scheduled for 6 p.m.
