COLLINS: City hall — too much, too fast?
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IF ANYTHING GETS PEOPLE WORRIED, it’s rising costs. Groceries, housing, city services and taxes.
The dilemma facing most businesses these days is that they don’t have much control over the costs. If beef goes up? You’re going to be paying a premium for that steak you’re planning to have on the barbecue this week. Salmon, chicken? They all fluctuate. And you have to balance your books accordingly.
And today, I want the city to check over all their expenditures and see if they are on track. I think taxpayers are looking carefully at how fast the city is moving on its big projects. Voters approved money for a major hockey/ice facility up near KRCC. At the same time, we spent big on a new performing arts centre — a project already several million dollars over budget. And in the blink of an eye, we are now unveiling some ideas for tearing down the old Memorial Arena and the Kamloops Curling Club, putting in a major curling facility and other ancillary structures. A pretty big cost. Remember that the city continues to spend big on major road and utility work, a large number of potential housing units, and on we go.
I understand that a portion of the cost of these projects comes from grants and loans, but I don’t think the average citizen cares. They look at the bottom line, compare it with their bank statement and decide. My guess is that future referenda will have a tough time passing, which would be a terrible setback to our growth.
