Tri-County Band Asks for Grant Money

The president of the Tri-County Band, Dale Habel, stood in front of the Lower Southampton Board of Supervisors April 27 to convince them to continue distribute $1,500 grant money to the group.

According to Habel, the band has been receiving grant money from the township for about 20 years.

“Our taxes are in excess of the grant,” Habel said, noting that it costs between $12,000 and $15,000 a year to operate the band.

“It costs us [a lot] of money to keep going,” he said.

Vice Chairman of the board, Keith Wesley, asked Habel if the band does anything to raise money. Habel said that the band sells ads that appear during the two concerts it holds throughout the year. In addition, Habel said that the band has supporters that donate money.

The Tri-County band holds concerts for free aside from about 20 jobs that it does for a fee.

“The economy is tough,” Wesley said to Habel.

“There are people that are barely able to pay their taxes and you’re asking us for tax payers’ dollars. You do a great thing, but times are tough,” he said.

However, Habel said that the band members feel that they earn the grant from what they do.