To the editor:
Council now has been given a very brief report about Oliver Paipoonge Heritage Park for 2024. With attendance up by 42.3 per cent, one would expect revenue to rise a similar amount. However Report 2024.200 says revenue rose by only 8.3 per cent to $10,821.
Report 2023.194 has total revenue of $10,000.26 . And there is no breakdown as there was in the past. Report 2023.194 gave a monthly breakdown of the revenue sources, admission, donations to specific exhibits, sales as well as the totals for each. It is not possible for taxpayers to see how much of that revenue was raised in 2024 through paid admission and that is the true gauge of interest.
To put that additional $821 in perspective you really need to see the change in operating cost year over year. In the 2024 budget the final number for 2023 Total Operating Expenses is $124,199. In 2024 the budget number for Total Operating Expenses is $145,657 or an increase of $21,458. So an increase in revenue of $821 and a projected increase in operating expenses of $21,458. The obvious take on that is the operating deficits will only continue to grow.
But this is not the total picture for the museum. The projected deficit for 2024 is $131,657. There is a capital program projected to cost $76,500 which will be covered from reserves. Be clear here, these reserves are not profits from previous years. It is money transferred in from other sources and last year that number was $433,079 from general revenue. That money could have been used to lower the amount borrowed for other projects such as the paving in Kakabeka but instead was transferred to the museum reserve.
We have to look at report 2023.110 to see the bigger picture. These numbers are included in a table at the end of that report. In this table there are four columns showing projected expenses.
The first under backlog shows a total of $562,000 of repair work. The next column shows the 2023 capital program and the number is $174,000. The third column shows upcoming work (less than five years) and that is $360,000. The total shown in the report is $1,096,000. The final column shows annual requirement and that number is $60,820.
In Report 2023.110 there are 14 buildings listed but six are marked as BCA Required which is building condition assessment. While it is entirely possible these buildings need very little in the way of repair we simply do not know.
This is a direct quote from the report regarding Red Barn and Tannery:
"These buildings are in poor shape and will continue to deteriorate without major outlays. They house a lot of items but it is highly questionable whether they are of any value. Administration is thinking they should be demolished-— the sooner the better."
If that entire $1,096,000 is covered over a five-year period as the report seems to suggest that means over the next few years another $662,921 has to be dedicated to cover those repairs.
Our suggestion to council is provide the insurance coverage, pay the heat and hydro and contribute $20,000 to the museum.
That money can be dedicated to whatever project the museum board wishes to pursue at the site. That will total about $50,000 using 2024 budget numbers for utilities. The museum board will also be allowed to use any admission revenue for on site projects. Using 2023 admission numbers, since we do not have 2024 admission numbers, taxpayers will still be paying about $50 for every $5 in admission revenue.
As we pointed out earlier, the museum reserve fund is totally funded by the taxpayers.
It has never made a profit. We would like to see the existing reserve to be used for one of two things. Council can and should produce a budget capped at the current rate of inflation for 2025 with no borrowing. It can be used to eliminate any borrowing required in the next budget. If that reserve is not needed then it can be applied to the construction of roofs over the outdoor rinks.
Get cost estimates for basic structures, nothing elaborate. Then proceed on a program of one rink at a time using only that money. No borrowing to complete anything.
And for the record neither of us have children or grandchildren living in the township that will benefit from covered ice surfaces. However, like all municipal taxpayers we will benefit from a prudent spending of tax dollars.
For those wanting to check numbers the budgets are all available under the Finance tab. The reports are included in meeting agendas.
Report 2024.200 Council Meeting Agenda Oct. 8/24
Report 2023.194 Council Meeting Agenda Nov. 14/23
Report 2023.110 Council Meeting Agenda June 28/23
We hope taxpayers and Newswatch do use these sources to fact check.
Les Pawluk
Rick Angove
