Thunder Bay’s mayor says this city has enough money to pay for an indoor turf complex.
During a conversation this morning with Acadia Broadcasting’s John Ongaro, Bill Mauro noted while there is a $5-million reserve fund, there’s also the hotel and gas taxes, which would total $15-million.
“So you see we’re half way there on the original project. That’s without touching anything in renew Thunder Bay, or reserve fund that we have, that’s without any provincial support or federal support that we may get, that’s without looking further internally.”
The city’s mayor stresses the potential hit on taxpayers could be very small.
When it was pointed out residents have endured this before such as the event centre, Mauro noted he thought everything was lined up for council last night, including financing.
“There’s other ways to find money, to lessen the debt burden, if we take any on at all. We could’ve dealt with the operating model, we could’ve gone out to tender and decided how we’re going to operate it. Those other decisions could’ve been set aside. All we needed to do last night was pick the site.”
The city’s mayor adds there’s no need to compare this with the event centre, as money hasn’t been spent yet.
He adds last night he wanted council to sort out the size of the complex and where it would go, instead of waiting to July 22nd.
“And if we had been able to ratify that decision last night, then administration would’ve been able to begin today moving forward with procurement to begin the geotechnical work on the Chapples site, and whatever else they might’ve needed to start doing.”
Thunder Bay’s mayor adds he doesn’t understand the chat about an elite complex, since it’ll be for everyone.
