The steps being taken towards Timmins building a new aquatic centre continue to be a topic of debate.
At Tuesday's budget meeting, city treasurer James Howie presented an overall budget update to council, outlining the increases and decreases for 2016.
Among the new adjustments is $1.5 million dollars for 'Detailed Design and contract supervision Aquatics Center' as described in the budget report.
The report was not made available to the public.
Councillor Joe Campbell said although he is generally in favour of the aquatics centre, the ask is simply too much for this year.
“With all due respect, I don't understand how we're going to put $750,000 for contract supervision in connection with the aquatic centre, and turn around and take $250,000 out of our reserves to cover that offset. That doesn't make any sense,” said Campbell.
Campbell said his understanding of the city's mandate, was to be 'shovel ready' for the originally budgeted amount of $500,000 and said council needs to be cautious of spending such a large amount of money on a project that currently has no committed financial assistance from either the provincial or federal governments.
He said that if $750,000 is the cost to get a project ready for construction, then it simply does not make sense to do it all this year.
“I don't believe for a minute, that we should be putting $750,000 aside, I know the mayor is going to have comments on that, that's fine, that's what debate is all about,” said Campbell.
The $750,000 would be put into the Future Infrastructure Reserve.
He questioned as to whether or not city administrators have taken into account the financial impact of the recent announcement from Porcupine Gold Mines, which will seize underground mining operations at the Dome site this summer.
Councillor Rick Dubeau was not impressed with the numbers presented, concerning the aquatic centre, nor the currently proposed 2.94-percent increase to taxpayers.
Mayor Steve Black asked director of public works and engineering Luc Duval to confirm if he was correct in understanding that 8 to 12 percent of the total construction costs, would be chewed up by the engineering design process.
“That's been the tendency of our projects in terms of budget allocation for engineering,” said Duval.
“Again, its conceptual, so it could be plus or minus,” he added.
Black said he realizes that there is opposition to making a larger commitment toward the project.
“I know the argument right now is we can't afford a pool, by some councillors. If you don't start putting money aside, we can have that argument this year, we can have that argument next year, we can have the argument the year after that, or the year after that,” said Black.
Black said council has been proactive in the last few years to put money aside into reserves for future projects, and was under the assumption that the majority of council had voted in favour of moving ahead.
Councillor Pat Bamford said he supports the $1.5-million commitment, saying that a definite decision has to be one way or the other. He also looked to Ottawa for assistance.
“I think everyone around the table realizes that we should be going out to the federal government, who is looking at spending money, and see if we can get some money there. One of the things we should be doing, is writing to Mr. Trudeau and encouraging him to put into the potential infrastructure projects, projects for recreation,” said Bamford.
Dubeau didn't appreciate the changes in the budget from the previous budget draft.
“We were told last meeting, that we only need $500,000 to be shovel ready. We were told last meeting it was $500,000 for design, that's it, and now we're turning this around again. We're playing with numbers here and it's pissing me off,” said Dubeau.
Campbell said the proposed tax increase was 'terrible' “We don't have to put that money aside to the affect our tax rate to the degree that its affecting our tax rate this year. We have to have some responsibility to the people who paid for us to be here and who voted for us,” said Campbell.
Black said that several reports in recent years have indicated that Timmins needs to be putting 'significantly more' funds into capital projects, citing the Conestoga Rovers Report, Financial Plan and Asset Management Plan.
He says in recent years, council has ignored the results of those reports and instead have focused on as close to a zero percent tax increase as possible.
“At some point, council is going to have to establish some more money to do things with capital projects,” he said.
“I believe we should put the 1.5 million in the budget” said Black.
Black said he believes residents are very supportive of the aquatic centre and that his office has yet to hear major opposition.
Councillor Andre Grzela said part of the role of a city councillor is to balance yearly projects as well as thinking about the future.
“I'm very much for the aquatic centre. I like the idea of it. I understand the benefits of renewing that asset within the community, but I think there's a responsibility around the table that we commit the amount not only for the aquatic centre, but keeping in mind the other goals we have to reach,” he said.
Council eventually voted to have staff bring back a report outlining ways to bring the proposed mill rate increase to 1 percent. The report should be ready for the next budget meeting on January 26.
Currently, the only public aquatic facility is the Archie Dillion Sportsplex. In July of 2015, council approved spending $160,000 on a feasibility study for various sites around the municipality.
