Money | in brief
City ends 2007 in the black
A recent audit of Fredericton's finances confirmed the city finished 2007 with a modest surplus.
The year ended with a positive variance of $307,046. That's on revenue of $84 million and expenditures of $83.7 million.
The surplus amounts to 0.4 per cent of the budget.
The audit of the city's books was handled by Ernst and Young.
Coun. Dan Keenan said the positive surplus is good news for all residents.
Plowing costs up
The mounting snow continues to put a hole in the city budget.
The winter that has dragged on has put snow-removal $172,562 over budget as of Feb. 29.
The tough winter is also taking its toll on the province's books.
Winter road maintenance costs for the Department of Transportation rose by $14 million this past year because of the unusually harsh winter.
The province's original $54-million estimate has been increased to $67.9 million.
Record snowfalls have been recorded in different regions of the province, making it tougher to keep highways open, he said.
City Awards 26 Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants
The City of Fredericton has awarded project grants totaling $75,000 to 26 arts, culture and heritage groups.
Projects will range from an exhibition called Building New Brunswick showcasing significant architecture in New Brunswick; heritage events on Fredericton's north side; a one-of-a-kind display at the NB Fine Craft Festival; an outdoor theatre production of Shakespeare; a Maliseet Language Film Festival; and a writers' fair with readings and workshops.
The grants were awarded through a jury process, based on set criteria.
Eligible organizations were invited to apply for assistance of up to $5,000 for multi-day festivals, major events or series in relation to the arts, culture or heritage, and up to $2,000 for other projects.
A third category, the community asset grant, provides assistance to purchase equipment that will be shared by three or more organizations.
Two community asset grants were awarded.
The grants were made available through the city's Arts, Culture and Heritage Funding Program. The program was established in 2001 to encourage new projects or activities in the creative arts, culture and heritage sectors.
The funding program is open to non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is related to the arts, culture or heritage.
In addition to stimulating appreciation of the arts or heritage and improving financial stability, successful projects are expected to build community support, develop wider audiences or attract visitors, and contribute in terms of artistic, heritage, cultural achievement or skills development.
The recipients for 2008 are:
* Asian Heritage Month (Asian cultural gala, film festival and exhibition), $4,000
* Atlantic Sinfonia Orchestra (school partnership & education program), $4,000
* Beaverbrook Art Gallery (Exhibition: Building New Brunswick), $4,000
* Celtic Discovery Performing Troupe (Celtic Energy Weekend), $2,000
* Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne (30th anniversary cultural activities), $4,000
* Dance Fredericton (ballet presentation: The Nutcracker), $2,000
* Fredericton Arts Alliance (Art Trek), $1,500
* Fredericton Arts Alliance (summer artists-in-residence), $4,000
* Fredericton Arts & Learning (workshop series), $5,000
* Fredericton North Heritage Association (heritage celebration events), $1,200
* The Playhouse (Production: Christmas@theplayhouse), $3,000
* Gallery Connexion (artist residency & workshops: Lois Schklar), $2,000
* Motion Ensemble (concert and workshop series), $2,500
* N.B. Choral Federation (Spring Choral Fest and workshop), $1,200
* N.B. Country Showcase (Maritime Countryfest), $4,000
* N.B. Country Showcase/Riverfest/Highland Games/Harvest Jazz & Blues (Community Asset Grant: Festivals 'toolkit'), $4,100
* N.B. Crafts Council (One-of-a-kind Craft display), $2,000
* N.B. Filmmakers' Co-op (Silver Wave Film Festival), $4,500
* N.B. Highland Games & Scottish Festival (musical programming), $3,500
* N.B. Summer Music Festival (Jazzy Kids, Classy Kids, Tunes and 'Toons'), $2,500
* NotaBle Acts Theatre Company & Theatre UNB (Bard in the Barracks: As You Like It), $4,000
* NotaBle Acts Theatre Company (production of Chapel Arm, by Step Taylor), $4,000
* Theatre NB (Theatre School production of Beauty & the Beast), $2,000
* UNB Centre for Musical Arts (Fredericton International TubaFest), $1,000
* Wolastoq Language & Culture Centre (Maliseet Language Film Festival), $2,000
* Writers Federation of NB (Fall Fair), $1,000
Compiled by reporter Shawn Berry
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