Town council to increase budget for low-income recreation program

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg council voted to increase the amount recipients of its low-income recreation program receive and to fund the increases through the taxpayer levy.

The town’s Recreation and Sports Advisory Committee members recommended the changes to the Fee Assisted Recreational Experience (FARE) program for Oxford County residents in financial need. The program is now open to county residents who can prove their total household income is below the Statistics Canada low-income cut-offs.

Successful applicants to the program currently receive a $100 credit towards town recreation programs, plus an indoor skate and pool membership, health club membership and waterpark pass. In the past, the program was paid through fund-raising initiatives.

Recommendations from the committee were to allocate $20,000 in funding in the 2027 budget for the program, restrict it to Tillsonburg residents only and increase the allowance per person to $200 annually.

“Basically, the idea is for individuals with low income to take part in our recreation communities,” said Andrea Greenway, Director of Culture, Recreation and Parks.

Coun. Chris Rosehart asked how FARE differed from other community programs with similar purposes. Greenway said those programs don’t apply to town programs.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy asked if staff had reached out to community partners to assist with funding.

Greenway said funding started through the United Way Oxford, explaining, “What we’re finding is it costs so much money to raise the money, other communities have just included it in their budgets.”

Gilvesy furthered her concept, explaining if the town can give tax receipts, people may donate if they were aware of the program.

“It’s a great program,” the mayor added. “I’m just for finding other ways to fund it other than putting everything on the taxpayer.”

Coun. Chris Parker said it was a great program and research done at the committee level showed other municipalities are funding similar initiatives through their budgets.

“The funds that are in here go a long ways to help individuals,” he said.

Council passed a motion to adopt changes to the program, to fund it with remaining funds in 2026 and suggested a minimum of $20,000 be included in the budget for 2027.