Posted Apr 16, 2009, 5:28 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Saint John, NB
Posts: 73
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Police station in trouble?
Published Thursday April 16th, 2009
Tax rate Deputy mayor, councillor would halt headquarters if project too costly for taxpayers
C1
Reid Southwick
Telegraph-Journal
SAINT JOHN - The new police station could be in trouble.
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Bill Farren
City councillor Bill Farren and Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase said Wednesday they are willing to put the brakes on the $25-million project, should it become too costly for taxpayers.
"I have been a very strong proponent of this police facility going ahead," said Farren, who was vice-chairman of the city's board of police commissioners for several years.
"But if it's going to jeopardize the tax rate or services, then I have to do some due diligence for the people who elected me and take a second look at this."
Chase said he is waiting for reports on the costs the city would have to cover to build the police station, but he was equally concerned about the impact this and other capital projects may have on the tax rate.
"If it's going to have an extremely adverse consequence on the tax rate, I couldn't put that burden on the taxpayers," Chase said.
Should common council select one or more private firms to design, fund, build, operate and maintain the police station, the city would simply have to pay the equivalent of rental fees.
Still, Chase said he was concerned the fees may swallow up city funds that could be spent on covering other costs of running the city, without an adverse hike in the tax rate.
With a more traditional funding model, where private industry would design and build the police station, the city would have to shoulder the costs and that may be too much to swallow, Chase said.
"Whether it's a lease payment or debt payment, the costs will crowd out our tax rate and we might not be able to cover other things," he said.
"I've moved along with the various steps we have taken to get to this point because it could be a project that is really workable and in the end will be good for the city. But I am holding my decision until I see the final financial impact on the city."
The city has recently made significant strides to build a police station and parking garage next to a new justice building in the city centre.
Earlier this week, council gave early approval to bylaw amendments that would close portions of three streets to make way for the police station and public green space.
The city has held several public consultations, drafted many designs and hired a private consulting firm to identify companies that would cover project costs, while building and maintaining the police station.
The city is expected to issue a call for proposals this summer to find the best company.
When the bids come in, council will make its final decision.
Given all the momentum, Councillor Donnie Snook said he believes there is little doubt the project will move ahead. Still, he's willing to debate the amount of money the city should invest.
"I can't imagine that it wouldn't go ahead in some form," Snook said. "We need to find a way to make it happen and we need to be working hard and taking a look at it, and do our best to find a way to move things forward in the most cost-effective way."
Farren is scheduled to present a motion to council next week that calls for a report from city staff that would lay out the capital projects on the books or planned for the city, and the associated costs.
Should the report indicate the tax rate would have to balloon to support the capital projects, Farren said, council must re-evaluate its priorities to identify the projects it can afford.
The councillor said the police station could be on the chopping block, along with the parking garage and recreational park upgrades, among others.
"If the finance commissioner comes back and says, 'We're going to have to raise taxes or we're not going to be able to provide some critical services,' then council has to sit down and look at our priorities again."
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