In response to a 240 per cent fee increase to $16,822 to rent the Activity Centre for this year's rodeo, the Jasper Heritage Rodeo Association is proposing a $10,000 contract to rent the facility instead.
"We knew that the increase was coming, and so we tried to figure out what we thought was fair and what was financially achievable for our organization," said treasurer Gail Lonsberry, who presented the proposal to council.
鈥淲e decided that a contract of $10,000 per year鈥攁n increase of $3,600鈥攚ould be both fair and equitable, and more importantly financially achievable for us.鈥�
With this proposal, the municipality will absorb the almost $7,000 difference that the $10,000 contract doesn鈥檛 cover.
The contract proposal comes after the association carefully reviewed and tightened its rodeo budget, in response to a $16,000 deficit in 2012.
The Jasper Heritage Rodeo has been in Jasper since 1926 and has attracted many of Canada鈥檚 top cowboys since turning professional in 1992.
The Jasper Heritage Rodeo Association also contributes to the community by providing grants and hiring non-profit groups for services. 鈥淪ince 2006-2012, we have donated鈥攅ither in-kind or in actual cash value鈥�$37,991.71 back into the community, not including spin-off business,鈥� said Lonsberry.
She and the rodeo association recognize that contracts aren鈥檛 stagnant and this issue may return next year. 鈥淓ven at $10,000, we expect next year that there probably will be a two per cent increase and I guess we鈥檒l figure out how to get that.鈥�
Council will decide whether or not to accept the proposed contract at the April 16 meeting.
