Deferring Crescent Park projects and delaying maintenance initiatives at the Cultural Centre are just two decisions city council has made to address a nearly $9-million shortfall in the 2024 budget.
During its Dec. 13 budget meeting, council approved eight motions — city administration had initially presented 12 during a previous meeting — worth $9,063,738 to address the $8,959,764 shortfall in the general capital reserve budget, leaving a surplus of $103,974.
This budget area is responsible for addressing core infrastructure initiatives such as sidewalks, pavement rehabilitation, bridges, building improvements and park upgrades.
Parks and recreation
Council voted 4-3 to reduce the parks and recreation department’s capital budget by $790,000, leaving $933,600 left for next year.
In favour were councillors Jamey Logan, Doug Blanc, Heather Eby and Dawn Luhning. Opposed were Mayor Clive Tolley and councillors Crystal Froese and Kim Robinson.
The deferred or reduced projects include Crescent Park upgrades, the playground renewal program, removing the Parkhill Park paddling pool, demolishing the Scouts Hall in West End Park, upgrading irrigation at the Old Cemetery, pathway connection improvements, accessibility upgrades, new Kinsmen Sportsplex arena air handling units, and restoring the city hall bell.
Also, there is the community capital grant program, LED lighting upgrades at Pla-Mor Palace, renovations to the Kinsmen pool lifeguard room, ceiling repairs and painting at Mae Wilson Theatre and structural repairs to the Cultural Centre basement.
Froese was concerned about deferring some initiatives because they were focused on maintaining existing buildings, such as the Mae Wilson Theatre. She thought that the venue’s ceiling would grow only worse without repairs while its appearance would negatively affect events.
Meanwhile, she said that council regularly discusses demolishing derelict buildings, but they have chosen to keep the Scouts Hall building for another year. She also thought that deferring some projects would only lead to bigger problems later, while she believed the city should quickly change to LED lights to see immediate electrical savings.
“I really think we can’t turn to LEDs fast enough in this city,” Froese added.
Eby said she had similar feelings about deferring initiatives but believed she needed to trust the directors since they had made the recommendations. While there were risks with projects not proceeding, she was comfortable leaving out some items.
These projects need to be done, but council needs funding for them and there isn’t any, said Luhning.
Meanwhile, she appreciated how administration had provided a deferment list, which likely hadn’t happened since her first time on council nearly two decades ago. Usually, council members had to “get into the weeds” during budget meetings to find initiatives to reduce or cut.
While some recommendations eliminated projects, Luhning said hiring a grant writer could help generate money for the capital budget. However, she wanted city administration to monitor this position to see whether the person was being productive and whether the position should be kept or cut.
“The (parks and recreation) department is a very important aspect of our city, but I’m torn because there are (projects) I’d like to see done,” said Coun. Doug Blanc. Yet, he agreed that they must rely on the parks and rec director’s suggestions of what to defer or cut to reduce the deficit.
Froese agreed that the directors made these recommendations but thought it was council’s job and in its power to decide where to allocate funds and how projects would benefit the community. That’s why the list of options was presented to them.
“I really do think we’re literally nickleing and diming things that will turn into bigger issues. So we may have to spend this money further down the road,” she added.
Eby agreed that some projects would have to be pursued in the future, but thought if council started cherry-picking items to keep, then they would have to find other projects in the budget to remove and she wasn’t sure which ones they could live without. That was why she was putting her faith in the directors’ suggestions.
The Express will have a second story featuring the other seven motions.
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