EDITORIAL: Event centre too costly?

An event centre would be a great addition to Thunder Bay.

But with as much as a six per cent increase to the tax levy on its way and hikes to hydro and water rates, spending $40-plus million of municipal taxpayer money on a project that will eat more tax dollars every year, is getting harder for many to swallow.

City council and administration had better tread lightly.

In a recent tbnewswatch.com poll, unscientific as it may be, 73 per cent of respndents said the city should suspend its event centre pursuit, given current budget pressures.

Thunder Bay’s debt is expected to grow to close to $200 million by year’s end, up from $184 million. This from a council that prided itself in saying it was lowering the city’s debt.

They’ve borrowed heavily to complete the widening of the Golf Links Road corridor, and plan to spend millions more than last year.

With few exceptions, there seems little inclination around the council table to cut spending.

In Sudbury, administration was told to find savings, and brought back $8.4 million that could be chopped – albeit at a cost.

If the city insists on going forward with its event-centre bid, then councillors must dig deeper and find ways for the taxpayer to save money in other areas. We can only afford so much.