(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Funding Needed

P.A. Community Service Centre hoping for extra paratransit funding

Nov 26, 2021 | 2:58 PM

The Prince Albert Community Service Centre(CSC) is hoping for a last-minute update to its paratransit budget for next year.

City council members held budget talks last week where they agreed to give around $572,000 to the organization. When including grants and donations, the budget rises to roughly $687,000.

This is around $34,000 more than what they received in 2021 with the extra funds aimed at helping 21 individuals, who are currently on a waitlist, get access to paratransit.

However, Bill Powalinsky, CEO of the CSC, told paNOW they need another $48,000 to properly help the individuals who already use their service.

“We can’t eliminate turn-aways and waiting lists if we don’t have enough money to maintain our current level of service,” he said.

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Powalinsky claims the centre hasn’t seen an increase in funding in three years and they’ve since returned to pre-pandemic service levels. This is why the overall cost has increased.

If they don’t receive the funding, he said they may have to make some tough decisions when it comes to evening and weekend operations.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, the extra $34,000 intended for the waitlist would be used on maintaining their current levels.

Despite this potentially becoming a reality, Powalinsky isn’t too nervous at the moment.

“I’m very optimistic that we will find a way to be able to ensure that we have adequate funding.”

All the funding approvals made during the initial budget talks still need one more thumb’s up by P.A.’s council before they become official.

Powalinsky is also looking forward to continuing talks with the city on creating a multi-year funding agreement to ensure the organization doesn’t have to face these types of issues moving forward.

Meanwhile, budget talks are set to resume on December 1.

Council is set to consider the proposed sanitation, landfill, utility, and airport budget.

The overall budget is expected to be officially approved at the Dec. 13 council meeting.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow