BARRHEAD - Woodlands County residents can now give their input about whether the municipality should contribute financially to a new culture and events centre by filling out a survey online or in person at the two municipal offices in Fort Assiniboine and Whitecourt.
During a special council meeting on March 29, Woodlands County councillors passed a motion to make the survey available as of April 4 through the municipality’s website and Facebook page, as well as to have physical copies of the survey available at the county’s two municipal offices. The survey can be filled out over the next two weeks.
On Feb. 16, an ad hoc committee from the Town of Whitecourt made a presentation to county council asking for the municipality’s support in building a new culture and events centre in the community.
The committee members indicated the new facility, which would also house the town’s library and municipal administration office, would cost an estimated $59.5 million to build.
Approximately $32 million would be funded by various government grants, while the Town of Whitecourt itself would contribute $10.7 million. Another $7.1 million would come from municipal partnerships, while $2.6 million would be generated through sponsorships. The remaining $7.7 million would be funded through reserves and the sale of assets.
During their March 17 meeting, Woodlands County councillors decided they would survey residents about whether to contribute to the new facility. A sample survey was reviewed, and some changes were suggested by council.
The updated 2022 Whitecourt Culture & Events Survey asks participants to fill out their name and e-mail, indicate whether they are a resident or business-owner and state in which division they reside or own property.
It then asks if they would use the proposed centre and if they would support a tax increase to help cover the construction and operating costs of the facility.
Finally, it provides a sample of the potential taxation increases, noting that in order to pay off a 10-year loan to cover the $7.1 million capital contribution and potential $400,000 annual operating deficit, the taxes of the average resident with a tax assessment of $326,000 on their home will go up $5.38 per month.
It also states the average small business valued at $499,560 will see a tax increase of $32.35 per month, while the average industrial business valued at $1.21 million will pay an extra $78.12 per month.
Coun. Devin Williams asked if all the questions in the survey must be filled out, as councillors were previously concerned that the survey results might be skewed by people from outside the county filling it out.
Director of corporate services Alicia Bourbeau indicated that, with the online survey, participants have to fill out the identifying questions before they can move on to the rest.
Incidentally, council did briefly discuss making the survey available April 1, but they agreed that might send the wrong message with it being April Fool’s Day.
