Festivals and special events should have at least a one-year history in the city before they receive help from the city's coffers, says acting Mayor Ranj Pillai.

He made the statement Monday night before becoming the lone council member to vote against doling out $33,500 in cash and a further value of $35,110 through in-kind services to four festivals set for next year.

The grants will see the Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival receive $10,000; Yukon Educational Theatre, $1,500 cash and $2,110 in-kind for its Burning Away The Winter Blues event; the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, $10,000 in cash as well as in-kind; and the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival, $12,000 and another $23,000 in-kind.

Pillai took issue with Rendezvous receiving just $2,000 more in cash than the bluegrass festival, which will make its debut in Whitehorse next year after years in Haines Junction.

The winter festival held each February is used to promote both the city and the territory, with the Rendezvous society being a big part of the community throughout the year.

Just last month, for example, Rendezvous was among those entertaining delegates at the Alaska tourism industry conference held in Whitehorse, Pillai argued.

The bluegrass festival, on the other hand, has yet to establish itself in the city.

"Let's see (it) get through one year,” Pillai suggested, adding it's sad that money would be taken away from Rendezvous in favour of the bluegrass festival.

When the city last updated its special events and festival grants policy a couple of years ago, a change was made so that it was no longer based on how long an event had been in the city.

"It gives everybody fair access to the funds,” Mayor Bev Buckway said of the grants earlier this year.

At Monday night's meeting though, Pillai suggested the city should go back and look at the formula it uses to dole out cash to events.

Though Coun. Doug Graham had some sympathy for Pillai's view on Rendezvous, it wasn't enough to change his vote.

An excellent committee makes the funding recommendations to council based on the criteria council approved, Graham pointed out. It's the criteria that determine which grants are recommended, he emphasized.

Coun. Dave Stockdale said while the bluegrass festival will be new to town, if it is eligible under the city's criteria, council would have to have a very strong reason to overlook a recommendation by the committee.

He too praised the committee's work in reviewing the applications.

Stockdale and Graham cited the city's policy around the grants before they raised their hands in favour of the funding.

Coun. Florence Roberts was quick to point out that Rendezvous will not only be getting $12,000 of the $18,500 it asked for in cash, but the full $23,000 worth of in-kind services it sought, bringing the full value of the grant up to $35,000.

Last year, the organization was approved for $9,750 in cash and $14,217 for in-kind services. It had sought $16,000 in cash and $23,000 in-kind.

Though Graham also volunteered to donate his $3,450 councillor-initiated travel subsidy after Rendezvous asked for more money, his proposal was turned down by the other council members, who argued the money should be used for travel.

Mayor Bev Buckway and Coun. Dave Austin were absent from Monday's meeting.