By Thia James

Field House paid off, but levy lingers on

Jun 17, 2015 | 7:09 AM

The cost to build the Alfred Jenkins Field House has been paid in full, but the levy used to fund it isn’t going anywhere.

It’s now called the “wellness” levy, and on Monday council voted to put more than $200,000 of its excess into a future facilities reserve. The money is in excess of what was needed to pay for the Field House.

But the continuation of the levy is not something Coun. Lee Atkinson recalled was discussed in council meetings.

“I think that this item should have been discussed at budget, that this was coming to an end and we should have dialogue and discussion on how this is going to be utilized, whether it was going to continue or whether we’re going to [be] removing this burden from the taxpayers,” he said.

He said the City failed the taxpayers in terms of accountability and transparency. He later added that the City has an obligation to rescind it because the Field House has now been paid for.

Event Centre funding

City may hire lobbyist for event centre money

8h ago

International honours

Raiders' Kubiesa to represent Czechia at IIHF U18 Men's World Championship

11h ago

Learn the signs

How often should you change your brakes?

15h ago

At budget time, the budget committee did agree to remove the Pineview Terrace Lodge levy from residents’ tax bills, since the construction costs of that building were paid off in full. The Field House levy would remain in place to collect the remainder of the money owing for the centre’s construction.  The levy would be put towards facilities more generally, since the Field House’s construction costs would be paid off in full by this summer.

However, the levy was not lowered to collect only the amount outstanding. It is currently being charged at the full mill rate of 0.580 mills.

After the budget negotiations concluded in December, Mayor Greg Dionne said the City would talk about the Field House levy in the new year. 

“It used to be a facilities [levy] and it should go back to that,” he said after the council meeting. “Because, at the end of the day, we are going to need new facilities, so I can see us keeping that levy.”

On Monday, Coun. Ted Zurakowski, recalled some discussion at budget time about renaming the levy. He said they discussed it in relation to the Kinsmen Water Park’s slides, but also other facilities, as well.

“I think it’s a conversation that needs to continue and I’m expecting to have that conversation in the upcoming budget discussions as well.”

But for Atkinson, the issue is a matter of process.

“Just because there’s dialogue or discussion without a motion being made – a levy is created, by a motion of council, to effectively tax the taxpayers for a facility. The facility is going to be paid [off], it’s not identified during budget, there’s certainly no motion made during budget to re-establish this levy to continue it or change it something else or rescind it.”

The topic came up during a discussion about the City’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014.

Mayor Greg Dionne said it is on the agenda for an upcoming strategic planning session, ahead of the 2016 budget discussions.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames