City Agrees to One Year Grant for Railway Museum

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 03:49 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The Railway and Forestry Museum is facing a budget shortfall of about $11 thousand dollars this year, partly because of reductions in funds from regular sources, (gaming grants and Direct access Grants)partly because of reduced admissions and partly because of increased costs.

Executive Director Ranjit Gill says the Museum would like to have a 5 year moratorium of its annual agreement with the City which calls for an annual fee of $1,000.

The City has similar lease agreements with 14 other organizations and Councillor Dave Wilbur worries this might be the first step on a very slippery slope. He notes many organizations are facing financial difficulties and providing a five year break for one might be expected to be done for all. He suggests an annual review, not a five year break.

Council has agreed to provide a $1,000 grant and the funds will come from the Council Contingency fund.

Gill says the Museum will be stepping up its fundraising efforts, starting with a garage sale at the end of May. The Museum has acquired some items such as dishes and memorabilia from the basement of the Prince George Hotel. She says those items will be offered up for sale at the garage sale which is set for the 29th and 30th of May at the Museum.

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Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 03:49 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Municca on April 13 2010 10:12 AM

This so called Museum is a joke!

Posted by: hammmy on April 13 2010 10:59 AM

Heavy words there Municca!

Posted by: gus on April 13 2010 11:17 AM

The society is a charitable organization which has its 2008 information return posted on the internet. For 2008 it had $222 thousand in revenue from 3 levels of government, the bulk of which was from the regional district and the city.

That year they had additional fundraising revenue of $167+ thousand, $32 thousand from rental income, $5 thousand from memberships and almost $10 thousand from sales and service.

Their revenues of about $480 thousand exceeded their expenditures of $421 thousand.

Two years later they are asking the City for $1,000/year for 5 years?

In 2008 it appears as if they were a finacially well run organization, gving due consideration to the fact they were receiving half of their expenditures from taxpayers through non-user, non-donator sources.

What happened, other than less money from gaming, etc.?

Posted by: gus on April 13 2010 11:32 AM

Let us compare.

Revelstoke railway museum, same year's information.

http://www.railwaymuseum.com

- $93 thousand from governmetnts(provincial only - nothing from feds or regional district/city)

- $103 thousand from fundraising

- $428 thousand from SALES AND SERVICE (that is 40 times as much as the PG museum)

All that with a lower total payroll of $196 thousand with the local one being about $220 thousand.

here's the bad part

- total revenue of $645 thousand

- total expenses of $728 thousand

So, a 10% shortfall.

The Revelstoke assets are about half the value of the PG assets, about $1.5 million versus over $3 million

Posted by: gus on April 13 2010 11:46 AM

One more folks ... sorry ...

Kamloops http://www.kamloopsheritagerailway.com/index.html

the charity reporting info

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/ebci/haip/srch/t3010form19-eng.action?b=886668888RR0001&e=2008-12-31&n=KAMLOOPS+HERITAGE+RAILWAY+SOCIETY&r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cra-arc.gc.ca%3A80%2Febci%2Fhaip%2Fsrch%2Fadvancedsearchresult-eng.action%3Fn%3Drailway%26amp%3Bb%3D%26amp%3Bq%3D%26amp%3Bs%3D%2B%26amp%3Bd%3D%26amp%3Be%3D%2B%26amp%3Bc%3D%26amp%3Bv%3DBC%26amp%3Bo%3D%26amp%3Bz%3D%26amp%3Bg%3D%2B%26amp%3Bt%3D%2B%26amp%3By%3D%2B%26amp%3Bp%3D1

- $133 thousand revenue from government
- $ 192 thousand from sales of goods + service

- $106 thousand salaries and benefits

- $391 thousand total expenses
- $361 thousand total income

total capital assets .... $26 thousand.

The picture that emerges seems to be that we may have the largest collection of artifacts, the largest government subsidy, but we have the highest salaries and, by a vast margin, the lowest income on sales and services.

So who is going to turn that around? Can someone please talk to Revelstoke and Kamloops and pick their brains?

Posted by: He spoke on April 13 2010 12:21 PM

So how many of us went to the muesuem and donated generously. That is fundamentally the problem, we expect it to be free. Its sort of like going to a service station, use the toilet, and leave without spending a dime in that store. Eventually that business will close down.

Be considerate to what it cost to operate a show like that.

As far a Munica's comment goes, well she is simply ignorant to the fact, what it takes to present what they have. I just feel sorry for her to be stuck in such a small little world.

Posted by: Palopu on April 13 2010 10:17 PM

Actually the Museum is not to bad. It does take us back to our roots, however if you are from out of Town or Country, then you probably are not familiar with the history of South Fort George, Central Fort George, and Prince George, or the Railway and Logging Industry that built this Country.

I go to the Museum from time to time spend a little money and look around. If more people did that then of course they would generate more money.

There is history attached to everything there from Fire Trucks, to Logging Trucks, to old Railway Building from Penny BC, and the attendent morse code equipment etc;

It may be a joke to some, but at the end of the day it reflects the history of the area, so thats that.

I suspect that their revenue may be down because the CN no longer rents them the building across the street, and they had to move equipment.

Does anyone know what the CN Plans for this building??? Is it possible that our Sercret Service City boys are working behind the scenes on their ill conceived Community Energy System. Keep your eye on the ball.

Posted by: metalman on April 14 2010 7:50 AM

Take this local treasure for what it is, something put together by a dedicated group of people, which has grown to the point it needs full time staff. If it is too small town for you, I suggest you travel to visit 'better' collections.
We should all appreciate anything we have, locally, and be especially grateful to dedicated volunteers who donate thair time to whatever cause.
metalman.

Posted by: gus on April 14 2010 9:10 AM

Metalman. How much do you actually know about the museum other than what is displayed?

It has full time staff with a payroll of over $200,000. I know/knew three people who are/where on staff as full time employees.