Lights, Music and Sawdust

ORIGINALLY POSTED Wednesday, January 10, 2007

This tale is so long it is almost daunting. But, it needs to be told.

We sold our Hydro company to Powerstream in 2005. They continued to use the building on a year’s lease. In May of 2006, they vacated on a months’ notice.

The rent was $9000 a month and taxes were $5000 (give or take a penny). So, there was an immediate drain on the town’s coffers of $14,000 a month. That is not small change.

It was an election year. Up comes the idea we would keep the building and use it for a youth centre. Immediately, Leisure Services staff were directed to report on alternative uses.

As noted, the building was producing revenue. The assessed value was $2.1 million dollars. Land values have been escalating, so, on the market, it is probably worth $3 million.

Twenty-four Aurora jobs left when Powerstream pulled out of town. That was a blow.

We have an Economic Development Officer on our payroll. His function is to encourage business to locate in our community.

We have a Strategic plan which cost money and man-hours to prepare. It’s main focus is to improve our economy and attract jobs to the community.

We have capital forecasts which indicate when a new or increased space will be needed to fulfill the needs of the community within the next five years.

We have a Chief Financial Officer to advise us on the implications of pursuing a particular course of action.

The Hydro Building has been empty for seven months. It will likely be empty for another five. It represents a loss of almost $200,000 from the town’s forecasted revenue for 2006.

$200,000 is about a percentage point in our tax rate. If our tax rate increases by 7% in 2007, 1% of that was because we left the Hydro Building empty for a year. It could have been leased immediatley.

But it was an election year.

The dominant question from voters at election time is ;”O.K., what are you going to do for me?” Even nine year old children learning about the process have learned to ask that question.

Elections are about “bread and circuses” – high-wire acts of balance on a tight-rope far above the heads of the crowd, incredible feats of derring do....and grand illusions that promise magic.

When the circus moves on and the lights and music are gone, the smells of popcorn and spun sugar dissipate and the excitement is over. All that's left is the sawdust and stark cold reality.

'Tis said “Politics is the art of the possible”. If that is true, the first possibiliity has to be about being elected. Everyone who has a vote, those who cast it - and those who don't, all have a hand in creating possibilities, good, bad and indifferent.