LETTER – Don’t keep us in the dark about PAC, other Build Kamloops costs

I certainly agree with Mr. Gordon that the PAC and its funding strategy is an important and controversial matter.

I also think it would be incumbent on the story tellers to get the details correct and refrain from propaganda.

I’ve had many people say how they think a 1% tax increase or $25 a year is not a lot to pay for these wonderful new amenities. This may leave the impression or perception City representatives and supporters want the general public to believe, but this proposal requires a calculator to understand the full financial consequences.

It is actually a cumulative five-year increase of 1% property taxes, every year up until 2029 and then $125/year until the projected pay out in 2059 or until this debt is fully repaid.

I feel it is disingenuous to market this proposal, or constantly refer in public announcements, that the cost to taxpayers is ONLY $25/yr. It’s $25 the first year, $50 the next, $75 the year after that, to a total of $125/year by year five.

And this is just for the proposed PAC and arena complex. The pools and senior’s centres, etc. would presumably be subject to an additional tax increase. It also doesn’t cover regular annual or semi-annual tax hikes.

What about ongoing operational costs like maintenance, security and additional support staff? Also, will the City need to build more downtown parking capacity? The proposed location for the PAC currently provides 180 downtown spaces. The PAC would only provide 125.

Does the 5% total levy include every property class or just homeowners (Class 1). Does business contribute (Class 6) or light industrial (Class 5), major industry (Class 4), etc. or do they all get a pass on the costs of building these community amenities that will ‘benefit everyone’?

I question why there was no vote or at least a discussion on the suggestion to include regional (TNRD) participation, similar to what Nanaimo did, to help assist with shared amenities financing, or a TteS funding agreement to cover Sun Rivers residents who use city amenities.

City council holds a weighted vote on corporate and stakeholder decisions made at the TNRD board level. Why wasn’t a reasonable option for some sort of financial support pursued by our City representatives? Did I miss finding a record of any proposal being discussed or presented by Coun. O’Reilly or another of the City’s TNRD directors?

I am curious as to the projected costs of the other amenities proposed by the Build Kamloops team. I don’t like being kept in the dark when it comes to future expenses. I would like this council to give taxpayers a rough projection as to the ticket price to complete ‘phase 2’ of future Build Kamloops projects.

Also, there is no end-date for this 5% tax grab. Once the loan is paid off in 2059 will taxpayers get a 5% refund on their tax bills or will the city just ‘absorb’ the more than $8mil per year dedicated to pay for these two new amenities? I have seen no after-completion refunds proposed for other debts that we property owners have been paying off over the past couple of decades.

I think we need to sort out all the facts and the City needs to provide more clarity regarding the actual costs and funding structure of the proposed PAC and rink multiplex.

DENIS WALSH