Leduc opens budget deliberations with GTO proposals

LEDUC -- The City of Leduc conducted the first phase of its annual budget deliberations this week.

The first order of business relating to this year's budget deliberations was the City's GTO requests, which examine proposed community grant funding for the upcoming fiscal year. According to the municipality, the annual funding aims to support the work of local non-profits in providing social, personal, environmental, and economic development in the community.

Approval, or disapproval of proposed grant funding, falls under the jurisdiction of Leduc's Parks, Recreation and Culture Board, as well as its FCSS Board. For the upcoming 2026 fiscal year, the PRC Board recommends $73,642 in new GTO funding, while the FCSS Board is recommending a total of $14,500. PRC Board Chair Tiffany Archie talks about the new funding requested by the Leduc Grain Elevator.

"Funds to the grant allocation is to be used to support community events such as Canada Day celebrations, cultural days, public and school tour programs, and other activities that bring the audience to the historical building," said Archie.

Leduc's Family and Community Support Services only reviewed two grant proposals, one from the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul and the other from the Parkinsons Association of Alberta. FCSS Advisory Board Chair Lisa Cardinal says the Parkinsons Association of Alberta applied for an $8,000 increase from their previous funding.

"The justification that the Board has for this recommendation is that we recognize and appreciate their wide range of support services," said Cardinal.

Meantime, during the presentation, it was determined that the Leduc Minor Football Association did not qualify for new grant funding. This was due to the organization's application being deemed incomplete, as the PRC Board determined that financial need was not demonstrated by the application. Councillor Bill Hamilton spoke on the matter during the deliberations.

"I'll jump on the record and say this is kind of sad," said Hamilton. "Unfortunately, they didn't tick the right boxes and didn't submit the right documents -- we're going to be celebrating this group, they're playing in a championship, and the group is doing really well. It's unfortunate. I appreciate we have rules, and I'm glad that the Boards have gone through it."

The Board states that the Leduc Minor Soccer Association also missed out on new grant funding due to similar reasons. In total, the City of Leduc has $226,142 allocated for community grant funding for 2026 and $286,286 in ongoing community supports. 

Here's the full list of new grant funding proposals for the upcoming fiscal year:

Leduc Grain Elevator -- $14,200
Filipino-Canadian Association of Leduc -- $4,200
Happy Homesteaders Square Dance Club -- $2,000
Leduc Art Club -- $9,700
Leduc Boat Club -- $7,500
Leduc Curling Club -- $18,542
Leduc Drama Society -- $12,500
Thaddeus Lake Music Foundation -- $5,000
Parkinsons Association of Alberta -- $10,000
St Vincent de Paul -- $9,500