Two organizations submitted their budgets for town council consideration at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
Pauline Christian and Winnie Bissett presented the Heartland Youth Centre budget.
Bissett talked about a few success stories of the HYC, and gave a summary of what went on there in 2013. The teenagers involved put in a combined 1,455 hours of service, including highway cleanup and a drive for the food bank. Membership started out at about 260, and went up to 300 by the end of 2013.
Christian initially predicted a shortfall of funds, but HYC ended up within budget for 2013.
“I’m not really concerned about 2014,” she told council.
The town accepted the budget and allotted $40,000 for the continued operation of the HYC, which is what council normally does.
The Stettler and District Handibus Society also did well in 2013.
“We’re not quite so much in the hole as we were last year,” said Cindy McDonell, chairperson of the Handibus Society.
The Handibus Society predicts a lower deficit for 2014, as passenger numbers have risen slightly. They are also anticipating receiving $20,000 from the town.
The Handibus is the only wheelchair-accessible public transportation for the County of Stettler, and as of the end of 2013, had almost 7,000 passengers. The Handivan has had almost 500 passengers as of the end of the year.
The budget presented by the Handibus Society was also carried by council.