One question asked on Councillor Perrelli’s recent “survey” was “The City of Richmond Hill has a special fund, which it uses to make donations that are unrelated City business. There is no staff recommendation or vetting process. Anyone can just show-up and ask for your hard-earned tax dollars.”
Here are the facts! This question is in reference to the Council Engagement & Marketing Account. According to David Dexter, Director, Financial Services/Treasurer this account has an approved budget of $80,100 for 2019 that is managed out of the Mayor’s office. The detailed expenditures including who received the funds and how much are listed publicly every quarter. To date just over $35K has been spent sponsoring various community organizations and events.
Councillor Perrelli’s survey neglected to mention that each Councillor also has a “Community Expense/Donations” category as part of their expense accounts. To date over $14k has been spent on various activities. There is no staff recommendation or vetting process and the quarterly expenses do not provide any details as to who received the donation or what the money was used for unlike the Council Engagement & Marketing Account as you can see below.
All Council Expenses should be detailed and transparent just like the Council Engagement & Marketing Account!
Below is a listing of the expenditures of the Council Engagement & Marketing Account as of June 30, 2019:
Sponsorship for Richmond Hill Board of Trade Chamber Banner
Sponsorship for Chabad Lubavitch of Richmond Hill Chanukah Event
Sponsorship for Carefirst Seniors and Community Services Association Gala
Sponsorship for Association of Iranian Canadians for Nowruz Fire Festival
Sponsorship of Supplies for RHCPA 10th Anniversary
Sponsorship for Mosaic Interfaith Out of the Cold
Sponsorship of Supplies for Mayor’s Clergy Breakfast
Sponsorship for Richmond Hill, Markham & Vaughan Chinese Business
Association Annual Gala
Sponsorship for Richmond Hill, Markham & Vaughan Chinese Business
Association MRVCBA CNY Networking Event
Sponsorship for Yellow Brick House Gala
Sponsorship of Supplies for Certificates for Grand Opening of New Businesses and Milestone Certificates
Sponsorship of Supplies for Council Open House
Sponsorship for Big Brothers Big Sisters of York
Sponsorship for Permit Fees for 2019 Iranian Canadians Nowruz Fire Festival
Sponsorship for 2019 Portraits of Giving Richmond Hill Honouree
Sponsorship of Art for “Town of Richmond Hill Award”
Sponsorship for 27th Annual Police Appreciation Night
Sponsorship for Mayor’s Character Awards
Sponsorship for 2019 Karnavali Ad
Sponsorship for Event Honorarium
Sponsorship for Big Brothers Big Sisters of York Event
Golf Cart Sponsor for Richmond Hill Board of Trade
Sponsorship of Polo for Heart Driveway Billboard
Sponsorship of Supplies for Raptors Event
Full expenditure details can be found at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EhzuUMA5asaqRZIfKV2E0hMGOBBxeGbv/view?usp=sharing