The Elora BIA presented council with a balanced budget on March 12.
The budget calls for expenditures and revenues of $90,000 (all figures rounded off.)
Business Improvement Area chairman Amy Corner told council the group’s new administrator is Fred Gordon.
Corner said one project that was well received in 2011 was the Town Crier, and that feature will be returning this year. Merchants can announce events through that person.
“People really love him,” she said. “BIA members really respond to his slant.”
That cost is $4,000 and shared with the Fergus Elora Retailers Alliance.
Gordon said the group brought forward a balance of $31,900 from last year, and it will receive a government transfer of $53,000.
The total cost of administration for the year is estimated at $28,700. Of that. $14,000 is for the paid administrator.
The group also plans to spend $4,000 on what has become known as the Petro Garden. That is the former Petro Canada gas station at the corer of Mill and Metcalfe Streets that was closed two years ago. The building has been torn down and the tanks removed, and the town and BIA are attempting to spruce up the property.
Other major expenses include $4,000 for a student, for which the group will be reimbursed by the federal government, and $2,100 for insurance.
The group will also take part in FERA at a cost of $21,300. That includes the cost of the Town Crier, a web re-design at $3,000, Starlight Shopping promotion of $3,500, and $4,000 for local and outside advertising. The budget for Monster Month is $2,000, and another $3,300 is for a 2012-13 winter event.
Corner said some of that work is already done.
As well, under the revitalization and beautification budget, there are new planters coming for Mill Street at $3,000, improvements to planting in all areas at $3,500, another $4,000 for holiday decorations, and $2,080 for the statue project and other beautification efforts.
Corner said the BIA now has five bases in place for sculpture, with four of them at the Petro Garden. She said there were nine submissions for the available spaces, with six from Elora and three others from outside the township.
Corner said the merchants appear to be very much behind the FERA efforts, and noted a recent survey about it resulted in a 90 per cent return of the survey.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj thanked the group for its presentation and said “it sounds like a wonderful plan.
Councillor Walt Visser added that he is impressed by the group’s presentation and that it appears to be doing a great deal for a small amount of money.
