City piles $20m more into Olympics
Friday, December 7, 2007 by David Eby
The City of Vancouver is drowning in red ink related to the Olympics, and is now dedicating funds equivalent to a 4% tax increase or 1,000 units of social housing to the problem. Yesterday, the Vancouver Sun reported that a $20m "legacies fund" that the City had set aside, but not budgeted for, is now being used for operating expenses related to the Games. The fund will divert money that would have been put into the City's operations budget to Olympic purposes.
In unrelated news, the City is preparing for a significant tax hike.
Peter Ladner was quoted saying the following: "You can't avoid some costs for the Olympics. It's not like the city is taking on all the additional costs themselves, but there is no avoiding the fact that the city is facing extra costs because of the Olympics." I'm sure the taxpayers will be relieved to know that the provincial and federal governments also have "additional costs" they just haven't told us about yet.
If you're thinking this sounds familiar, you're right. In July, the Vancouver Parks Board had to kick in an additional $2m to their $26m Olympic budget for Vancouver's Olympic "legacy" pool and curling rink.
Way back then, City Manager Judy Rogers warned that the cost increases in the pool and curling rink might be just the beginning of the increased costs the City has to shoulder for venue construction, saying the increase at the pool/curling rink funding supplement: "may not be the last funding requirement that comes forward before the Olympic facilities are completed." None of the $20m in additional funds this round is dedicated to venue construction.
According to the Sun, here are some of the highlights of what this trade off for 1,000 social housing units bought us from our "legacy" fund:
- $5m on Olympic "live" party zones downtown featuring live TV coverage of Olympic events in parking lots downtown;
- $254,000 for a delegation from the City to go to the Beijing Games to promote Vancouver;
- $1.5 million for an Olympic public art program;
- $300,000 to host the 2008 Paralympic torch relay;
- $1 million for "social sustainability" around the city's inner-city inclusivity commitments;
- $1 million for "community celebrations";
- $1 million for a "volunteer/ambassador program";
- $150,000 for environmental sustainability;
- $200,000 for "business-tourism initiatives";
- $816,000 contingency in case the city goes over budget on any of the functions.
Also in July, the Mounties said that the $175m set aside for Olympic security in the budget wasn't nearly enough. Part of the $20m being spent by the City is going to unanticipated policing expenses.
Vancouver isn't alone bearing increased costs. The teeny but wealthy municipality of Whistler has already ponied up an additional $1.65m for their Athlete's Centre. VANOC and Richmond had budgeted $155m for their Olympic oval which won't be usable for international competition in 10 years. The cost of that facility is now $178m, $95m of which is being paid for by Richmond residents.
In unrelated news, the City is preparing for a significant tax hike.
Peter Ladner was quoted saying the following: "You can't avoid some costs for the Olympics. It's not like the city is taking on all the additional costs themselves, but there is no avoiding the fact that the city is facing extra costs because of the Olympics." I'm sure the taxpayers will be relieved to know that the provincial and federal governments also have "additional costs" they just haven't told us about yet.
If you're thinking this sounds familiar, you're right. In July, the Vancouver Parks Board had to kick in an additional $2m to their $26m Olympic budget for Vancouver's Olympic "legacy" pool and curling rink.
Way back then, City Manager Judy Rogers warned that the cost increases in the pool and curling rink might be just the beginning of the increased costs the City has to shoulder for venue construction, saying the increase at the pool/curling rink funding supplement: "may not be the last funding requirement that comes forward before the Olympic facilities are completed." None of the $20m in additional funds this round is dedicated to venue construction.
According to the Sun, here are some of the highlights of what this trade off for 1,000 social housing units bought us from our "legacy" fund:
- $5m on Olympic "live" party zones downtown featuring live TV coverage of Olympic events in parking lots downtown;
- $254,000 for a delegation from the City to go to the Beijing Games to promote Vancouver;
- $1.5 million for an Olympic public art program;
- $300,000 to host the 2008 Paralympic torch relay;
- $1 million for "social sustainability" around the city's inner-city inclusivity commitments;
- $1 million for "community celebrations";
- $1 million for a "volunteer/ambassador program";
- $150,000 for environmental sustainability;
- $200,000 for "business-tourism initiatives";
- $816,000 contingency in case the city goes over budget on any of the functions.
Also in July, the Mounties said that the $175m set aside for Olympic security in the budget wasn't nearly enough. Part of the $20m being spent by the City is going to unanticipated policing expenses.
Vancouver isn't alone bearing increased costs. The teeny but wealthy municipality of Whistler has already ponied up an additional $1.65m for their Athlete's Centre. VANOC and Richmond had budgeted $155m for their Olympic oval which won't be usable for international competition in 10 years. The cost of that facility is now $178m, $95m of which is being paid for by Richmond residents.
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