SASKATOON – A tie vote at Saskatoon city council Monday evening means there will be no change in the registration process for programs at the city’s leisure centres.
Some councillors wanted to open registration to people in the city 48 hours in advance of classes being filled by non-residents. Currently, 21 per cent of children enrolled in classes are not from Saskatoon.
Ward 9 councillor Tiffany Paulsen was one who believed city residents should get first priority.
“Saskatoon residents are now starting to realize they actually pay three times to enrol their children in swimming lessons,” Paulsen during the debate on the issue.
“They pay once through a user fee which is charged to everyone. The operations of the leisure centre are subsidized by the property tax base, so they pay twice through their property taxes and then the children’s swimming lessons in particular are also subsidized by the tax base.”
Despite her efforts, the split vote amongst councillors meant her motion failed.
A supplementary report is expected this fall which will measure if supply is meeting demand.
If not, councillors will make appropriated changes at that time.
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