Georgina
November 26, 2008 07:11 PM
John Slykhuis
Soaring costs and a sinking economy has put the Keswick YMCA project on hold.
Council members decided last week not to proceed at this time after learning the $10.5 million cost for the indoor pool, gym and ice surface might cost more than $20 million when completed.
The potential costs could place a greater burden on taxpayers at a time when many are facing financial hardship as the economy heads into recession, Mayor Rob Grossi said.
“It was a tough decision, but if we have to add an additional $10 million in additional debentures, we’d have to build that into the tax levy,” he said.
“That’s a 3-per-cent tax increase right there.”
With projects such as the Ice Palace close to being paid off, there was room in future budgets to build a new $10M facility without affecting the tax rate, he said, but not with the additional costs.
The recreational complex was to have included an indoor pool and new ice surface.
A new ice surface is still a possibility in south Keswick or a doubling of the Sutton arena, Mr. Grossi said.
The soon-to-open Pefferlaw rink could have some programming for potential user groups, he added.
“People have to understand that the town’s commitment was to build a facility,” he said. “The YMCA doesn’t pay for it.
“They do fundraising in the community with the intent to raise $1 million to furnish it.”
Town leisure services staff took a hard look at the potential costs and came up with the $20 million plus figure based on similar projects being constructed elsewhere, he said.
“Our staff were very uncomfortable with that $10-million figure,” Mr. Grossi said. “I think we’re going to have a couple of years of very difficult times. We have to hold the line and utilize the facilities that we have. The big word is affordability.”
Councillor Ross Jamieson agreed with the decision to put the project on hold based on the revised potential costs, which went as high as $25 million, he said.
“You couple that with the current state of the economy, proceeding with caution is in the best interest of the public,” Mr. Jamieson said. “We haven’t cancelled this project. So any story that got out to the contrary is truly false information.
“A lot of people are under the misconception that the Y is building this and that we were giving them a hard time and all that.”
Most people don’t realize every penny for construction comes from the taxpayers’ pockets and the operating costs for the first five years would be guaranteed by the town, he added.
A report from leisure services staff is coming back to council at some point, he added.
Scott Haldane, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto is “very disappointed” with council’s decision, he said.
“There have been some costs and we have invested a lot of time, energy and frankly emotion to this project,” he said. “We have become aware of the need in Georgina for a Y and Chief Armand La Barge indicated that need as well.”
Mr. Haldane’s team will now re-focus their energies to communities that are showing interest in having a YMCA facility, he said.
Richmond Hill, Ajax and Milton could be potential sites, he added.
If Georgina shows interest again in future “we will consider our involvement again”.
In the meantime, the Y could offer some youth programming in addition to the current employment and resource centre in Keswick.
Alma McMullen, manager of relationship development for the Y, was heading up the Georgina volunteer team for fundraising, which included provincial Conservative Leader John Tory, a Georgina summer resident.
“We understand that it was due to economic uncertaintly, but we’re enthusiastic to bring it to Georgina when the town is ready to put it back in their plans,” she said, adding that in the meantime, the fundraising compaign has come to a halt.
“We would like to thank all the people who have supported us. We had an extraordinary group or volunteers here. But we’re just a phone call away. We know the community is growing and the needs are there.”
have your say: Was council right in postponing the YMCA project? e-mail jslykhuis@yrmg.com