WPCO Approves Large Budget For 2023-2024 Year
The Wolf Point Community Organization approved its budget for the 2023-2024 year during its meeting at the Silverwolf Casino on Monday, April 22.
WPCO chair Roxanne Gourneau called the amount planned for spending in the community as one of the organization’s biggest budgets ever.
The $131,200 in the budget includes $40,000 for activities, $20,000 for education, $1,000 for audit, $5,200 for funeral, $10,000 for meetings, $5,000 for office supplies, $2,000 for signage, $6,000 for unmet needs, $2,000 for utilities and $40,000 for youth programs. In addition, there was $14,972.92 carry over from the previous budget.
Gourneau says the budget contains $15,000 to assist with Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede activities. The amount is in addition to $5,000 for the Stampede from the previous budget. Plans are to have a tribal presence with singers and dancers for the opening ceremony of the rodeo on the Stampede’s Thursday night. A pow-wow type activity is planned during the Stampede. Organizers hope to make that an annual event during Stampede.
Another additional to the budget is two $2,500 scholarships to graduating high school students.
Gourneau hopes the scholarships are an incentive for students to continue their education.
“Our community always gets behind education because we prosper from it,” Gourneau said.
WPCO already gives funds to students graduating from the eighth grade and high school. The education committee and JOM also provides financial gifts to those students.
“We care, we support you. Your family needs to support you,” Gourneau said of providing for students. “This is us thinking long-term.”
During the March meeting, Gourneau was re-elected chair with 13 votes while Kris FourStar received 11 votes. FourStar was elected vice chair and Holly Denny was elected secretary/treasurer.
Gourneau said individuals need to be voted on in the May meeting to serve on the following committees: audit, education, membership, resolution and youth programs.
