INCREASED OPERATING COSTS PUT DARE PROGRAM IN JEOPARDY

Increased costs may have put the long-term feasibility of the DARE Works!
program in the foothills in jeopardy.

Members of the DARE Works! Society executive met with the Turner Valley
Town council on Monday night asking for a 20 per cent increase in the
town's annual contribution to the program.

DARE president Wayne Meikle said it was imperative the contributing
municipalities increase their financial commitment.

"There is a concern that if we have to do more fundraising it will be the
end of our program," he said. "We don't want to have to start raising
$40,000 a year because if it comes to that, I think it would destroy us."

In the five years since DARE was established in the foothills, the society
has yet to request an increase in contributions from the partnering
municipalities or the Foothills School Division (FSD).

According to Meikle, FSD contributes $20,000 per year, Okotoks and High
River donate $6,000, Turner Valley and Black Diamond chip-in $2,000,
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School contributes $4,000 and the MD of Foothills
gives $10,000 in support of the program.

However, while the contributions from the municipalities and schools has
remained constant, operation costs continue to escalate.

The largest cost is funding for the full-time RCMP officer who is
responsible for facilitating the DARE program.

The DARE Works! Society pays 70 per cent of the RCMP officer's costs
(through the Town of Okotoks) and the province pays 30 per cent.

In 1998 when DARE was established the cost was $56,000 to the society. That
cost steadily increased to $77,410 in 2003 and Meikle estimates the cost
will be more than $110,000 in 2004. A portion of the increase is due to the
addition of a part-time officer to the DARE Works! program.

"This year we looked at our costs and ask for a 20 per cent increase from
the municipalities," said Meikle. "This is the first time we have asked for
an increase so we can manage our fundraising."

Another concern for the society is the next census in 2007 Okotoks will be
officially over a population of 15,000 people meaning the town will be
responsible for 90 per cent of its policing costs.

As a result, the DARE society will have to pay 90 per cent of the costs of
its RCMP officer.

Either the society asks for an increase in support from its partners and/or
looks for another municipality such as High River to apply for the RCMP
officer on its behalf so their portion of the RCMP costs will remain at 70
per cent.

The DARE Works! Society has confronted three municipalities regarding the
increase including Okotoks, High River and Turner Valley.

Thus far, only the Okotoks town council has voted to approve the increase.

Turner Valley council said it will discuss the issue during its upcoming
budget deliberations.

Community Signage

The DARE Works! Society is looking at putting up signs in the communities
that are supporting the program that state, "This is a DARE Community."

Former DARE executive director Lori Czerwinski said the signs are a good
reminder to the children that DARE is a strong program that is supported by
the adults in the community.