As reported in the King Sentinel March 4, I have a number of concerns and questions pertaining to the active plans to replace the Schomberg Arena. I would like to take this opportunity to express those concerns in my own words.

The concerns I have arise mainly because what is in fact being proposed is not a mere replacement for that arena, but rather a new combined arena and dedicated curling facility. It has also been suggested, but with no details provided to council members, that this new facility is to be sited on lands in Schomberg, other than on the existing arena's location.

Staff indicated that King Township would have a very good chance of securing two-thirds funding from the provincial and federal governments for a "shovel ready" project, with the Township required to commit to paying the remaining third of that cost. But what is that cost?

The main questions that I asked at the Feb. 24 meeting were how much would this facility cost? How will it be paid for? And is a curling facility what the entire Township community wants and/or needs?

As far as cost, the answer given was "$12 million," but that is just for the building itself. Land and servicing costs have yet to be factored in. Keep in mind that there are no detailed drawings or estimates as of yet. Staff had only verbal "guesstimates" to provide at this time.

Even if we are certain the total cost will be $12 million, two-thirds funding leaves a minimum $4 million shortfall. And my question to staff and the rest of council was "who pays for that shortfall?"

The answer given was "potential funding sources, such as naming rights to the facility, development charges revenues, grants, taxation, or debentures funded through taxation." Of all those sources quoted, taxation and long-term debt appear to be the only sure things, with DC revenues having some potential - but how much, we don't know.

In order to qualify for two-thirds funding, we essentially have to commit to the project in order to get that money, which means we would also be committing to the $4 million shortfall, and that's at a minimum, as again, the $12 million price tag given (verbally) does not include land or servicing costs. Know that in King Township, every $100,000 of tax supported expenditures approved by council increases your tax bill by roughly one per cent. Thus, for $1 million, your taxes rise 10 per cent. For $4 million dollars, it's 40 per cent. The implications and unknowns of this project are, I think, significant.

My position on the grant is that it would be irresponsible to not at least try to secure this funding. The problem is the proposed plan is nowhere near shovel ready, whereas a replacement plan for the old arena, on the existing site could be put together fairly rapidly, and we already own the land which is serviced. The cost to do this work was cited at $8 million. Still a hefty price tag, as one third of that still amounts to $2.6 million dollars.

So, my questions and concerns remain as follows:

How is the one third shortfall to be funded? Is a curling facility the best choice to spend your money on when the Parks Master Plan, approved by Council in 2004, cited aquatics (i.e. an indoor pool) as your top priority. But if a pool is out of the range of what the Township can afford, then where would you prefer to have our tax dollars to spent - if at all? A fitness centre? An indoor soccer, tennis (i.e. a multi-use) facility? Or a dedicated curling rink? Where do all these potential options rank with you? What do you as a taxpayer in King want?

Cleve Mortelliti Ward 1 Councillor

Township of King