REGINA – Regina’s junior football league is looking for some financial assistance from the City of Regina.
The Regina Thunder, a non-profit organization, has made a proposal to change the length of the mortgage on their clubhouse. The building was built in the 1960’s and was home to the Regina Rams until they moved to the university. The Thunder then purchased it from the city in 2005 and has since invested about $50,000 in repairs.
In the past, the club has had trouble making their payments. They currently owe $76,000 of the $130,000 purchasing price which was to be paid back by the end of 2012.
Tuesday afternoon, the city’s finance and administration committee considered the revised payment schedule and a five year tax exemption.
“We spent up to $30,000 a year on scholarships. The big difference we’ve seen is the majority of our players are now attending post-secondary education,” said Brin Werrett, the Regina Thunder president, explaining that a new payment plan that would cut the clubs payments in half would allow them to provide more scholarships.
“The Thunder are a very important element of our city,” said Regina Mayor Michael Fougere. “The Thunder has a big impact on our youth. Sports is a really key element of youth as they’re growing up and we have a great football system, one of the best in Canada, and they’re part of that. And they are going to pay. They will get an exemption on the property, on the land, but they will pay for the buildings.”
The Regina Thunder has about 80 players aged 18 to 22.
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