The Town of High River has formalized a policy that sets out funding programs for local community organizations.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass says it takes some of the uncertainty out of annual budget requests.

"This is just putting the policy in place so these folks know when and how much money they're going to be getting over the next number of years here so that they can plan accordingly," he says.

It covers funding for eight organizations including the Museum of the Highwood, High River Handibus, the Highwood Centre, High River Library, STARS, the Lights and Parade Society and the Visitor Information Centre operated by the Museum of the Highwood.

He says a second policy also received approval providing one-time funding of $40,000 for the High River Performing Arts Foundation for its Sunday concert series, $31,500 for the High River Balloon Festival and $12,000 for the first year of the three-year policy for the Sheppard Family Park Society.

"The Sheppard Family Park is a new agreement, so they know what's going on and they are in the same portfolio or policy as the Museum of the Highwood and the Highwood Centre, being Town-owned facilities being run by others," Snodgrass says.

He says money for the Balloon Festival goes to help pay for traffic control costs.

Money for the Performing Arts Foundation is not to go toward efforts to build a performance centre.