City council opened the debate over how to spend your tax dollars on Tuesday, with most of the first day of capital budget talks surrounding old business.
The discussion included projects the city has already committed to fund, as well as maintaining current assets.
A total of $68-million is on the table, with the mayor and members of council, sitting as Finance Committee, tasked with deciding which projects will receive funding under the Capital Improvement Program.
One major discussion came up on the first day, with councillors tentatively agreeing on a $25-million contribution to redevelopment at Exhibition Park.
The project would include new meeting space as well as a dirt floor Agriplex, totaling $91-million.
A 6-1 vote in favour sending a strong message of commitment to the project.
“It’s a case of the chicken and the egg,” said councillor Tom Wickersham, who brought the resolution forward. “The other levels of government want to know, ‘Is the City of Lethbridge committed?’ We will talk once the city is behind the project.”
The money will be delayed until 2018, and is pending another $66-million coming through from the Exhibition as well as the federal and provincial governments.
Where the city will draw the money from isn’t clear at this point, as the $25-million doesn’t come out of the $68-million of new project funding available.
“I’m suggesting what we need to do, if we support any project, we should have the funding source in place right now,” said councillor Joe Mauro, the lone vote against the project. “Not just hope.”
Finance Committee is expected to begin debate on “big ticket” items on Wednesday morning, which may include a leisure centre and a performing arts facility.
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