Tricky decisions ahead as council dives into budget deliberations
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As city council begins its budget deliberations on Oct. 31 with a first look at the capital budget, it's a good time to remember that every decision has consequences and trade-offs.
Episode 196 of Speaking Municipally explores a few of the tough choices ahead. For example, administration has recommended scaling back the Lewis Farms Recreation Centre by cutting a diving pool and shrinking a pool from 50 metres to 25 metres to save $58 million on the project that had been approved at a budget of $311 million. Given the budgetary constraint that council finds itself in, it seems to make some sense to fund the basics rather than the bells and whistles, suggested co-host Troy Pavlek.
"In terms of the ability of a family to go to the recreation facility and enjoy it, I don't think administration is proposing cutting those things," he said. "But in terms of making this a facility that could be a host to competitions and a 'world-class recreation facility,' that may be on the chopping block."
But Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack said changing the plan now may incur further costs and delay the construction of a much-needed amenity. That resonated with co-host Mack Male. "There's a whole bunch of knock-on effects that they need to consider when they make these decisions," he said.
Trade-offs were also involved when council decided to close the Scona Pool, given the deteriorating state of the facility. The decision was not popular with those who use the Queen Alexandra neighbourhood's pool, and a group is raising money to try to keep it open until the construction of the Rollie Miles Recreation Centre (about which there is a public information meeting on Nov. 1).
The desire to keep the Scona Pool open is understandable, but it's going to take a lot of money to repair the pool and run it until its replacement is ready, Male said.
"There's also the liability and insurance costs," added Pavlek. "A non-profit society that is funded only by donors from individuals and has less than a million dollars in the bank going to be hard-pressed to operate a pool facility without insurance backing from the city. And it does not sound like the city wants to insure this."
