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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-03-09, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, March 9, 2016 Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan and the rest of council are in the midst of raising ice rental fees n the municipality to an extra $15 an hour on top of the original costs. Photo credit: Shaun Gregory Tuckersmith Coun. Ray Chartrand informed council March 1 that something must be done about the net losses from the three recreational facilities in Huron East. Currently the municipality is expected to be at a taxpayer levy increase of $154,000 for the second 2016 draft budget. Recreations deficit climbing Taxpayers expected to give roughly $600,000 in losses from recreation centres Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor While several roads in Huron East were closed due to a night of snowfall in Sea - forth, Tuckersmith Coun. Ray Chartrand, presented his own storm to council that's been brewing for quite some time - almost $600,000 in total net losses for all rec- reational faculties in the municipality. During the second budget draft, the fairly new man to the political round- table presented his fellow colleagues with a five-page straightforward document that explained where all the money was going relating to Huron East's three com- munity establishments. To make the document more comprehensible to the average person, Chartrand excluded all the capital and only focused on the reve- nues, expenses as well as how profitable as a busi- ness these facilities were. A collection of numbers, the former Windsor, Ont. native said tells an interest- ing story. "I did this for a reason. It kind of shocked me and I believe all of us around the table need to know just how much arenas and rec- reations cost the taxpayer," Chartrand explained to council March 1. Throughout the 20 -min- ute speech, he plead numerous times that 'something must change,' a predicament he said the political body of people has known about for years. "I distinctively remember the mayor saying let's hold them to their budgets, we didn't do it;" Chartrand said while Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan nodded his head yes, in understand- ing the state of affairs. "To date, I have not heard any plans of any of the facilities of A, how are we going to reduce costs? B, how are we going to increase revenue? Or C, how are we going to restructure to try and save the tax payers some money," stated Chartrand. According to Chartrand's evaluation for the 2016 budget draft, the munici- pality is expected to give a taxpayer levy of $247,147 to Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Sea - forth & District Community Centre will receive $205,134 and Vanastra Recreation Centre will get $204,233. Which is overall, a $154,325 increase compared to 2015. "The gap is getting bigger, the arenas and facilities are only making 40-43 per cent of the total revenue needed to operate the facility. If they are only making 40 per cent of the revenues that means the taxpayers are on the hook for the other 60 per cent," added Chartrand as well mentioning in pre- vious years he has heard for every dollar given, 75-80 cents were given back. "I don't know what the answer is, I truly don't, but we continue to throw money and their revenues are continuing to go down." After Chartrand finished speaking, MacLellan asked if council would like to comment. Directly across the horseshoe shaped table, Seaforth Coun. Bob ii I did this for a reason. It kind of shocked me and I believe all of us around the table need to know just how much arenas and recreations cost the taxpayer," — explained Tuckersmith Coun. Ray Chartrand to council March 1. Fisher replied instantly, "good job Ray." "I agree a 100 per cent Mr. Mayor. I thought about this for many hours, no sil- ver bullet. We got to do something with these costs, for the life of me. We need to put the managers (in) a cage and come up with something," answered Fisher concerning the staff in charge of running all the facilities. Agreeing with the state the amenities are in with revenue and other aspects, plus the dilemma council faces so close to budget sea- son and the cuts, MacLellan suggested to partake in a study being done by Blue Water. Something he recommended but admitted to being hesitant to because of the $30,000 cost and the fact it was not countywide. Another solution to the alleged problem optioned by the mayor, which Char- trand considered a topic guarded like a 'war fence' was to enhance arena fees. "I know some people might say well if you're going to increase it, I'm just going to someplace else. Guess what, if you're going to go someplace else, then maybe it isn't that important to have an arena that close to you," explained MacLellan and admitted other councils in the area are in the same boat and also suggested keeping the hockey teams at one ice rink. "It doesn't matter if you live in the far end of Brussels, your kid is not carrying his bag to the arena. Every parent puts it in the car and drives it up. If you have to drive it up for five minutes, it's not the end of the world." Seaforth Coun. Nathan Marshall, who is also the Huron East Centenaires' house announcer, said if ice rinks rates are proposed to rise, he wanted to see all aspects of the recreation phase to follow. "We are not just talking about ice rinks. Is the VRC going to up their swimming rates? Are they going to up their swimming lessons?" questioned Marshall sitting next to Chartrand. "I'm going to say the ice rates are the ones that do have to go up the most because of the costs. The hydro costs are blowing the utilities through the water," responded MacLellan. With the increases of levy given by the taxpayers for the recreational facilities, Chartrand predicts that number to grow more by 2017.