Home of the Silver Stetson Gets the Boot
Monday, June 25, 2012 @ 8:00 PM
Prince George, B.C.- No break for the Prince George Exhibition.
The Prince George Agriculture and Historic Association , which is responsible for the annual fall fair known as the Prince George Exhibition, had borrowed $45 thousand dollars from the City in 2010, to offset a debt created by a lawsuit. The PGX had come to the City two weeks ago, asking for the balance of the loan ( $36 grand) to be forgiven and that the rental fee for the lands this year be waived as recognition of the PGX’s 100th Anniversary.
At the time, Councillors were less than optimistic that the requests could be honoured and tonight, they delivered the bad news.
While staff presented a report that suggested the loan could be restructured, it also pointed out that forgiving the loan would cause a reduction in current levels of service because those loan repayment dollars form part of the operating budget. The staff report also indicated the PGX could apply for a cultural grant for next year.
The staff report also notes the City included the cost of renting a large tent ($19,000) in the construction cost of the new Kin 2 so the PGX wouldn’t be at a loss for that space.
While Councillor Lyn Hall said he would support option three to restructure the loan, no one on Council would move a recommendation to do so. So the report was received, and no action taken, meaning the PGX isn’t getting any break from the City.
"It is really disappointing" says Prince George Exhibition General Manager Terri McConnachie "So the decision tonight is basically no decision. We work really, really hard, and I just find it difficult to think this Council couldn’t find $10 thousand dollars a year to support us, it is just really really disappointing."
Comments
City still trying to put the PAC together, so not much to go around.
So after 100 years – still no respect. At least the Province came to the table a bit to help out this great event.
Mayor Greene and her band of nervous and less than merry men may say there is no money in the coffers but there was $350,000 (and counting) for the navel gazing exercise called a core review (also referred to as the really, really BIG study).
And of course there sure was enough when they approved giving themselves a big raise in pay (just before gassing staff in the environmental division, community policing, and social policy folks).
More than anything this decision is about priorities. Tax breaks for business friends – yes! Pay hikes for Council – You bet! Support for a volunteer based organization that has been part of the cultural fabric of this city and region for 100 years – the answer is NO!
It tells us a lot about the priorities of this gang at City Hall.
Wow, if the fair folks invite one smiling member of this council in on any photo opps….well, I’ll give ’em the boot myself! No waiving of the $2500 bucks for the rent – too much money for you ‘all? How about the $4,000 plus INTEREST charged on the loan, also too much – or maybe just a skip of the loan $10 grand loan payment for one freakn’ year….very, very sad. I am embarrassed and ashamed on their behalf. Rock on, PGX’ers….
Just jack up the price of admission. A dollar here a dollar there adds up.
Not for nothing but… the PGX are the only agency in all of Canada who have the gaul to charge the disabled for parking. Litterally no one else has the nerve to do this so I hate to say it but what goes around comes around.
Not only do the charge for parking, but they Charge the disabled for admission as well. If the disabled person has a worker who must attend with the disabled, then the worker can get in for half price.
This means that not only do they have the gaul to charge for parking they also refuse to give the disabled individuals a break on admission. Only the helpers get a break on their admission. Keep in mind that many helpers are paid assistants who are already getting paid to be there. (Having said that many disabled do have the good fortune to have family who help them and they get no financial remission)
The PGX’s policy on the disabled is based on the same logic that told the people that the earth is flat. Lack of real understanding and compassion don’t ring too true in the ears of city councillors who have been advised of this horrible policy. Perhaps they might get a little charity returned if they learned to give instead of asking to receive
The free rides at taxpayer expense had to end some time. As NoWay said, just jack up the already outrageous prices. I’m sure most folks won’t notice.
how about the city fires the mayors girl Friday and use her salary for something worthwhile.
Not quite sure why the disabled (?) shouldnt have to pay for parking, assuming they drive like everyone else who pays who parks there. Also, why should they not pay to attend? A lot of disabled these days hold jobs and some have jobs that pay very well. If you are talking about the disabled who are having a hard time on a fixed income, then I guess we should give the unemployed and welfare recipients free parking and free admisssion as well. I thought we were in a day and age where the disabled want to be treated just like everyone else?
You will get the wrath of Realist for those comments But.
Looks like Lyn Hall for Mayor, once again. Mayor Green better enjoy her ride because she will only get this one chance.
“…forgiving the loan would cause a reduction in current levels of service because those loan repayment dollars form part of the operating budget.” But $55,000 for hanging baskets in the DBIA budget was a valid expenditure?
And Johnny says “the free rides at taxpayer expense had to end some time” (Does that include tax free rides for business buddies?)
Give your heads a shake, council. Johnny, just give it up.
Please, as long as Stolz goes with her – one stone, two vultures. Have never had so much disrespect for any member of our City Council. Have often disagreed with decisions made; however, have been able to get past it. Not in this case.
Cheap and cheesy. No, not Greene & Co, but their handling of this request.
You who say “its time for the free ride to end anyway” what about the far larger subsidy granted to Theatre Northwest?
Isn’t it about time that outfit paid it’s own way too?
metalman
The unemployed and welfare receipients will not spend the rest of their lives living with problems that they will have no control over. Yes many disabled do work and most of these I know would be proud to be able to pay their own way but what of those who can not live as non-disabled live? It is easy to look at an employable disabled and unfairly compare them to the unemployeable disabled and then pronouce them less than worthy as they can do it why can’t you? Employable disabled are known as hero disabled to those who can not work as we are always compared to them as if we are guilty of being just too lazy to work. What human being would take offense to giving some dignity back to those who for reasons beyond their control, are severly disadvantaged?
As for driving like everyone else and paying like everyone else that would again be great if we had a fair and equal playing field but we simply do not. That is why we have our Federal and Provincial fuel tax returned to us because in the past the politicians ackowledged that we were not equal and able like other members of sociey.
As for NoWay perhaps I was a little short with you about your previous comment but when you read what you wrote it is very easy to be interpreted as a comment from someone who likes to point out that as a disabled individual you should not be entittled to have anything if you need financial help to survive. If I hurt your feelings I apologize as I was lashing out at what you wrote instead of what you seem to have intended to say.
I have given up on our mayor and council, they refuse to listen to the voting public, they do what they want with no regards to the bettering of our city, they constantly keep spending money they dont have any money to help the PGX ?? Time for another self voted in raise for council maybe ??
Mayor and council.. Please Resign immediatly, us voting public want someone in power that is competant and a council that actually does something positive for PG.
I applaud this move. If people want the fair to continue then they need to pony up the cash for it’s survival. It’s far from an essential service so there’s no way Joe and Josephine TaxPayer should foot the bill.
Ist everyone complains because council spends like a drunk sailor, then then tighten the belt a bit and they are a bunch of idiots.
The PGX is a luxury, not a right.
Maybe the City of Pg should take over the Pgx. Part of the takeover agreement would be the “Mayor Dunk Tank”. That should bring in some serious cash!
If Her Royal Lowness Major Green attempts to attend the 100th Anniversary, or deliver a message on behalf of the City, I strongly suggest that their attendance be at the decision making level. Oh my, we were unable to decide, so please do not show up!!!
OOPS, sorry, you are NOT invited.
If you want to talk about a fee ride, what about the Cougars. The City gives them so many benefits in rent reduction, percent of gross (not net) sales of food, drinks, etc. I believe one year are taxes went up something like 13% and 12.5% was because of the Cougars. The amount of benefits the Cougars get from the City, they City should have a say in the hiring of staff.
Sorry Realist handicap people pay for their parking in other cities. The only difference is that the parking meters are at a lower heights so they can be reach by some one in a wheel chair. I also liked the sign posted, “If you are having a good day, leave this for someone having a bad day”. So I left it for someone else.
Graymare hit the nail on the head.
The Couger franchise in Prince George is a *****Private Business**** The City gets a percentage of the Gross ticket sales to pay for rent, maintenance, etc; The problem is that because of the poor attendence the City in fact loses money every year. My guess is that it costs us somewhere in the neibourhood of $60,000.00 per year to have the Cougers in Prince George.
The average attendence last year was around 1200 fans per game. That would gross approx $17000.00. Even at the old rate with the City (before it was changed to a sliding scale) the City would only get 12.5% percent of the gross. Hardly enough to cover costs. In addition I beleive that the City pays staff to run the ((million dollar replay board)).
The Fall Fair people **borrowed** the money from the City, with the promise to pay it back. Seems someone made a serious miscalculation, or there was some **nudge, nudge, wink, wink,** going on.
“The Fall Fair people **borrowed** the money from the City, with the promise to pay it back. Seems someone made a serious miscalculation, or there was some **nudge, nudge, wink, wink,** going on”
??????
I have given up on our mayor and council, they refuse to listen to the voting public, they do what they want with no regards to the bettering of our city, they constantly keep spending money they dont have any money to help the PGX ?? Time for another self voted in raise for council maybe ??
Mayor and council.. Please Resign immediatly, us voting public want someone in power that is competant and a council that actually does something positive for PG.
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