Sports subsidy program halfway through its pilot year, under budget so far
At Monday’s Sackville town council meeting, Councillor Allison Butcher reported on behalf of the town recreation department that just under $12,000 has been paid out to residents so far as part of the Recreation and Sports Subsidy program.
Families can get reimbursed up to $300 per child for fees paid to join Sackville Minor Hockey, the Sackville Skating Club, Tantramar Lacrosse, or the Sackville Swim Club, between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
Sackville town council allocated $65,000 for the pilot program in October, after a debate in which some councillors called the program unfair because it subsidized certain expensive youth activities such as hockey and skating, but ignored others with similarly high fees, such as music and dance.
Proponents pointed out that the program is a pilot, and could be expanded to other activities in future.
Sackville recreation director Matt Pryde says that so far, reimbursements have gone out for all sports groups but for Tantramar Lacrosse, which has a spring season.
About 70% of reimbursed fees have gone to families registering kids in Sackville Minor Hockey. About 22% of fees have gone for the Sackville Swimming Club, and just about 7% have gone for the Sackville Skating Club.
Pryde says that 5 skaters, 22 swimmers and 47 hockey players have applied, and that all applications have gone through once all information has been provided.… Continue