One per cent of next year’s tax increase will fund nine capital projects in the parks and recreation department, projects that city council eliminated in April when the pandemic struck.
That one-per-cent increase will generate about $295,000, which will go to the general capital reserve to fund the projects in 2021. Those initiatives include:
- $35,000 to upgrade the roof drainage systems at the city complex
- $10,000 to complete floor replacements at the Moose Jaw Public Library
- $6,000 to replace garbage cans in Crescent Park with plastic receptacles
- $100,000 to implement the playground renewal program, $10,000 to continue replacing signs in parks and along pathways, and $44,000 to install a gravel parking lot at the MacDonald Athletic Fields
- $10,000 to complete a hazardous building materials assessment at the Hillcrest Sports Centre
- $40,000 to repair damaged pathways and provide better connections and accessibility within that system
- $40,000 to finish construction of an additional dressing room at the Wally Boshuck Arena
During the recent 2021 budget deliberation meeting, city council voted 5-2 to accept these projects for next year. Councillors Jamey Logan and Dawn Luhning were opposed.
Council discussion
The playground renewal project is the most important initiative, followed by the hazardous materials assessment, the pathways upgrade project, and the drainage system at the city complex, Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation, explained. The remaining projects are roughly equal in importance.
While these projects may be necessary, what concerned Luhning was the proposed mill rate increase of one per cent. She wondered if that could go up by 0.5 per cent instead, which could alleviate the pressures residents are facing.
“… I know we are just pushing things off (for another year). However, it goes back to the importance of what our community is facing right now,” she said. “Honestly, I focus more on the business community. I think about the business community and what some of our small business owners are facing with what’s going on.”
It might be possible to phase in the playground renewal program incrementally, said city manager Jim Puffalt. It’s a good start if that project at least gets in the budget.
The parks department could come back with a suggestion about spending that money based on the current priorities, agreed Blais. However, the problem is that many projects for 2021 have been deferred until 2022, resulting in an increase in capital funding spending of 110 per cent to $2.2 million.
The parks and recreation department maintains more than $155 million in assets — excluding Mosaic Place — and requires about $2.3 million per year to ensure those assets are maintained, he said. However, the department has had to work with about $1.2 million per year.
Coun. Heather Eby said she understood why council might not want to increase taxes for these projects but noted these initiatives cost less than what it takes to maintain buildings and infrastructure.
“Parks and rec gets the short end of the stick sometimes. They do a lot with not very much,” she continued. “Our parks and recreation facilities are important to our community. Obviously not as important as water, but … people have needed parks and recreation faculties during this time as much as they’ve needed anything else.”
While it’s important to keep the mill rate down and “dollars in residents’ pockets,” these projects will upgrade recreational amenities that give people jobs, said Coun. Kim Robinson.
“That one per cent will still be spent in Moose Jaw,” he added. “We have to remember that part of the puzzle.”
Council could get a huge repair bill later if maintenance is not kept up on these amenities now, said Coun. Doug Blanc.
“These places are vital,” he added. “If we don’t have them, we don’t have a city.”
