The Agenda Is In

The Culture Centre has been  operating for twelve months. It has received from taxpayers resources  $788ks,  including maintaining costs.

The contract requires  a quarterly financial statement  in order to receive  funding .
 
I received information in July ,  a  statement had been  provided   in April. At the same time, officials were preparing and hoping  to arrange a presentation to Council in September, the end of the first year of operation .

September 28Th , Tuesday.  is the last Council meeting of the term;  a final  opportunity for  public accounting of a new operation and a new expenditure of  more than  three-quarters of  a million dollars a year

A service  and an expenditure not spoken of in the last campaign .

Therefore cannot be deemed  to have received  public support.

My call to the Centre in July, was to determine user fees charged for the pre-Jazz Festival Gala.   I was told the event was considered an opportunity to support and  encourage culture.

I pointed out there was an admission charge of $35.

I was told  staff had no knowledge of admission charges. It was not their business.

Since no information  was provided about a user fee, I  assumed there was none.

I had asked at Council  when would there be an accounting of the program.

I was informed  a financial statement  had been received  and awaited  attention.

It  never  came  to Council's attention.

I asked again last week.  I noted we have one meeting left of the term.

The Mayor stated a presentation would  be made at the next meeting.

The Agenda is in. A delegation is listed from the Culture Centre.

No financial statement is attached.

The  financial statement was  received on August 13th.

I believe its reasonable  to expect  the public to be  interested  in  the Culture Centre.

During the last election, the facility was known as the Heritage and Culture Centre. Emphasis was on the museum being up and running.

The theory  of having an arm's length board operate the facility was to gain independence  from public funding. 

The contract  however says something different.  It states funding will be increased by 3% per year.

I have the August 13th  financial statement for the Culture Centre.

If it is not provided to Council , with sufficient  preparation time  for questions, I will  publicise  details  here  prior to the election.

Users of town facilities who pay fees have an interest in how town facilities  are managed.

Many believe because volunteers operate  programs, facilities should be free. 

Taxpayers who use no  facilities or services,  yet  are taxed to pay all costs  and in most instances, subsidise user fees as well,  have an interest  and a right to know  how this facility is being operated and why it should be different to other town financed operations.

Why should it be operated by a non-accountable board?

I will  provide the financial status.

I will not be able to inform them why the information has been with-held.

I don't know the answer to that question.