Cost of arts centre vote questioned

By MIKE YOUDS

A $160,000 price tag for November’s performing arts centre referendum ballot was run through a wringer by some councillors on Tuesday but emerged unchanged.

The total includes $125,000 for assent voting and $35,000 for public information leading up to voting day Nov. 7. Council was asked to OK the spending as an amendment to the 2015-2019 financial plan. Both cost figures came under scrutiny.

A simple yes-no ballot should not require the same electronic balloting expense as a civic election and there may be savings in hiring more people to do a manual count, said Coun. Denis Walsh.

“Is there a more economical way rather than using expensive voting machines?”

Electronic balloting for the referendum will cost the City $28,500.

Walsh proposed an amendment to the recommendation that would have City staff consider whether manual ballot counting could save thousands of dollars. The motion failed with only councillors Donovan Cavers and Tina Lange supporting Walsh.

Walsh also questioned why so much money would be spent on public information when many people are already well aware of the matter.

“This is just to ensure that everybody has all the facts to go with it,” said Cindy Kennedy, who will serve as chief electoral officer.

The spending will also give greater assurance of a good voter turnout, said Tammy Robertson, business and client services manager. She said they’ve taken a page from capital projects management and built “a very good way to get the message out.”

“From what I’ve heard in the street, people are more than willing to turn out and vote,” Robertson said.

Other councillors agreed.

“I think it’s incumbent on us that we do everything in our power to inform people,” said Coun. Pat Wallace. “This is a critical issue for the city. Referendums are not inexpensive.”

Cavers wondered why the City needs to have fully staffed polling stations when referendum turnouts are generally lower than those of elections.

“Look at the percentage of $90 million spending to gauge the opinion of the community,” said Coun. Ken Christian. “It’s miniscule.” Cutting corners would do a disservice to democracy, he said.

Mayor Peter Milobar pointed to the 42 per cent turnout for the last City referendum, the Tournament Capital program 12 years ago. He also noted the roughly $1 million spent in every one of 300 federal electoral ridings to manually count ballots.

“I think at the end of the day the savings will be minimal if at all,” Milobar said of manual counting. He believes electronic counting produces a more accurate result.

Council voted unanimously in favour of staff recommendations to enact a loan authorization bylaw that would receive third and final reading only if the referendum passes. They also approved preparation of a bylaw for assent voting that will specify dates for advance voting, special voting at RIH and care homes and general voting.

Voters will be asked whether they are in favour of borrowing up to $49 million to construct the performing arts centre and a parkade at 393 Seymour St., the former Kamloops Daily News building. The remaining cost would be funded mostly through one-per-cent property tax hikes in 2016 and 2017.

Meanwhile, the City’s arts commission voted at its regular meeting on Monday to support the Yes side in the referendum, Walsh noted. The City will remain neutral on the question.