Funds For Canada Winter Games Infrastructure Up for Discussion Today

Monday, February 28, 2011 03:59 AM

Prince George, B.C.- This afternoon, Prince George City Council will tackle the proposed additions to the Capital Plan as the last of its 2011 budget discussions.

The plan for spending from 2011 through to 2015 was approved last November, but there are five issues up for discussion:

First and foremost, the possible annual levy between now and 2015 to pay for the Canada Winter Games infrastructure, which would be a 2% levy on your tax bill this year and in each of the next four years. That 2% this year would collect $1,308,937 in 2011. This is the preferred option from City Staff which would also see a built in flexibility to add an extra levy in the years to support a “pay as you go” approach.

Also up for discussion as possible additions to the Capital Plan are:

1. Upgrades to five holding cells at the RCMP detachment. The upgrades were called for in the Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Cheryl Ann Bouey, (click here for details) but by the time the full five cells would be upgraded, it would be just a little over a year before the whole detachment operations move into the new building. The cost of upgrading all five, is about $540 thousand dollars. So, the options for the City are to upgrade all five, upgrade fewer than five, or do no upgrades and hope there are no injuries or deaths as the City could face a significant lawsuit because the need to upgrade these cells has been on the radar for the past 8 years.

2. Include the Tyner Boulevard trail in the plan as an un-funded project. Inclusion of this project in the capital plan would open the door for staff to make grant applications for the $300 thousand dollar project.

3. Two Way Traffic on 2^nd and 4^th: This project, with roundabouts, is valued at just under $2 million, including it as an “un-funded” project on the Capital plan would mean staff could explore funding options from other levels of government or organizations.

4. 4^th Avenue streetscape plan: The request is to move this to the un-funded portion of the Capital Plan. This is a $6.9 million dollar project, of which 4th Avenue property owners would be expected to pick up nearly $1.4 million of the tab.

This final meeting of the budget discussions starts at 4:30 and as always, will start with an opportunity for public input.

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Posted on Monday, February 28, 2011 03:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: giterdun on February 28 2011 8:38 AM

Is'nt it great. 2% increase to pay for something that the majority of us didn't have a say in. Ain't democracy wonderfull.

Posted by: seamutt on February 28 2011 8:53 AM

So when did I get a chance to vote for this tax increase for the games? Will I at least get free admission?

Oh I get it now, I get to put money into the pockets of the few building infrastructure for the games. Wonder if PAC will be slipped in there somewhere.

Hope all tis does not turn into a fecal explosion.

Posted by: Outwest on February 28 2011 9:34 AM

Fix up your Streets, fix the Potholes proper, Snow removal in all Streets, Cancel the Games, Residents are tired of paying more Taxes. Who are the Peoples wanting the Games , every time I want something I have to pay for it, so let them pay who want!

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on February 28 2011 9:55 AM

Why do I think that the compounded 2% per annum tax increases for the Games will become permanent and will NEVER be removed?

"...which would also see a built in flexibility to add an extra levy in the years..."

Aha! That's it!

The PAC extra tax levy will have built-in flexibility as well, one can assume. Flexibility as to how much and for how long.

Interest rates are low...but there are strong warnings from Flaherty that they will go up a lot!

Canadian citizens are being asked to remember that fact, governments can ignore that of course. It's spend and spend as usual.

Posted by: He spoke on February 28 2011 1:04 PM

So what is the idea of tearing down Kin 1 and building a new Kin 1.

How about repairing Kin 1 and building a new Kin 4 or would it be Kin 5

Posted by: realitycheck on February 28 2011 2:03 PM

A new stand alone rink to meet Canada Games standards will cost a minimum of $22 million. New roof, new changerooms and other required upgrades to Kin 1 will cost another $5 million or so. You prepared to pay that much He spoke?
Throw on top of that the minimum $300,000 to $400,000 annually to operate an additional building and provide the usual subsidies for user groups.

Posted by: Resident on February 28 2011 5:10 PM

Just great. We need to build a rink to the Canada Games standard but the citizens of PG who use the present facility and who pay for the operation of it should be satisfied with a rink of lesser standards than the games require.
Let's get the hell out of the games, forget the 2% compounded increase in taxes that we all know will never go away after 5 years, and listen to what the majority of the taxpayers in this town want. It isn't that much, fix the roads, plow the snow, and quit taking the very few dollars left in our pockets to spend foolishly on future photo opportunities.
Please someone run for the mayor's position that can curtain this out of control group of city managers and rubber stamp council members.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 28 2011 6:26 PM

Hizzoner Danno reminds me of the guy many years ago on TV selling oil filters fer yer car. I recollect him saying, "Pay me now or pay me later". Life imitating art?