THE future of the region’s financially embattled animal welfare charity appears brighter following Grant District Council endorsing a three year funding deal.
Elected members pushed through the funding offer for the South East Animal Welfare League at its meeting on Monday night.
Council has agreed to give $15,000 per annum over the next three years, which equates to a yearly increase over the life of the agreement.
The council has now opened the door for Mount Gambier City Council to possibly reconsider extending its one-year conditional offer.
City Council was expected to thrash out the issue last night following Grant’s decision.
League president Trevor Twilley described Grant council’s decision as a “relief” for the animal welfare charity given it faced possible collapse without a renewed long term funding agreement.
“We would have liked a longer term agreement with Grant council, but three years does give us some certainty,” Mr Twilley said.
He argued it appeared both councils had started to realise the league provided a service to both the community and local government.
Mr Twilley revealed hopes were high that City Council would also extend their agreement beyond one year.
“The decision by Grant is a relief for the board, staff and volunteers,” Mr Twilley said.
While City Council had pledged $60,000 next financial year, councillors were expected last night to canvass extending the agreement to three years.
This follows fresh talks between the neighbouring councils on the lingering funding issue.
Mr Twilley said a joint contribution of $50,000 or $60,000 would keep the organisation running as “business as usual”.
But he warned the organisation would have to seek sponsorship and fund-raise heavily to meet the facility’s costs.
Mr Twilley said the league had only managed to stop falling into operating deficit this financial year given the generosity of donors in recent months.
“After our plight was highlighted in The Border Watch, we had a person generously donate $5000 and a business also donated $1000,” said Mr Twilley, who explained donations from a deceased estate had also helped its bottom-line.
Grant District Council environmental services director Leith McEvoy said the contribution from council could be viewed as an annual donation.
“The league does provide a service to the community, which goes beyond the services the two councils would provide if they were individually or jointly managing their own dogs,” Mr McEvoy said.
“The initial costs for the councils to jointly establish their own facility and then having the ongoing costs to operate such a facility, would be significant.”
The agreement comes ahead of the current tri-partied five year agreement expiring on June 30.
Both councils jointly have contributed $40,000 annually to the organisation over the past five years with Grant council paying around $12,000 this financial year (indexed CPI).
Grant council indicated its decision did not depend on a tri-partied arrangement with City Council.
