Thunder Bay city council tentatively approves TBSO funding relief

Thunder Bay city council has signed offon a request by the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestrato provide it with more of its 2016 grant prior to municipal budget talks.

Ordinarily, grant recipients are eligible for a quarter of their funding prior to the budget being finalized, butcouncillorsallowed the orchestra to receive up to half of its roughly$295,000 funding, prior to the ratification of the city budget.

City administration recommendedthe forwarding of the additional installment, subject to a review of the symphony's finances by city staff.

Symphony officials say they arefacing a cash flow crisis due to decreased federal and provincial dollars.

Meanwhile, the symphony is continuing its own fundraising efforts and hasalready raised about half of its $225,000 goal.

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