Dwindling coffers and the rising cost of operating the museum has the Jasper-Yellowhead Historical Society acting as a “fundraising committee” rather than a society dedicated to the promotion of Jasper’s regional heritage, council heard last week.

“This can’t go on much longer,” Joe Couture, a historian for the society, told Jasper councillors during a budget meeting last Thursday. “We’ve got the same people that have been doing it for years and we’ve been doing the same events and we’ve tried new events and all it does is break even, and even sadly it doesn’t break even.”

Couture told council that the society can no longer sustain itself financially and needs further assistance – a plea that council heard last year, as well.

During the 2011 budget process, in December 2010, the society presented council with a three-year funding request. At that time, the museum was budgeted to receive $43,000 from the municipality. 

The funding request was that council, in addition to the $43,000, commit an extra $13,000 in 2011, $14,692 in 2012, and $1,634.76 in 2013. 

At that time, council agreed to support the museum with a one-year commitment of $47,000, with a conditional addition of $9,000, pending the submission of a financial sustainability plan.

One year later, council has yet to receive a plan.

Karen Byers, manager of the museum, told council that the plan is currently in the works and noted that one of the things the society is considering is what to do with the building.

“We need a building audit done,” she said. “It’s a very expensive building to operate.”

The society is looking at installing a new flat roof on the museum that would cost in the neighbourhood of $100,000, she said.

“We’re just wondering if it’s worth it to put money into this building or if we should be looking at other options.”

In the proposed 2012 budget, there is $44,290 allocated to the museum.

Upon hearing from the society, Mayor Richard Ireland noted that council has “always indicated a preparedness to support the museum, but we wanted to know how it could remain sustainable and that’s why we asked for a sustainability report.

“We will certainly deal with it when you can present us with that report. In the meantime, it is on our budget and we will consider what amount you will wind up getting in the 2012 budget.”

Council will vote on the proposed 2012 operational budget, which suggests a 4.1-per-cent municipal tax increase, in the new year.