Charlottetown library board asking city for $1 million to address cost overruns
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Taxpayers in Charlottetown are being requested to assist cowl the expense of value overruns for the Charlottetown Studying Library Centre on Queen Road.
Stan MacPherson and Shawn Murphy, who sit on the board, made a presentation to metropolis council on Feb. 27 asking the town for $1 million, unfold over the following two years.
Murphy stated the library has been an incredible success, averaging about 1,000 guests per day since opening in July 2022 within the Dominion Constructing. Nevertheless, it has come at a price.
Murphy stated building got here in over funds and the board was quick on its fundraising objective.
“As , this was a serious infrastructure undertaking for Charlottetown,” Murphy stated in an interview with SaltWire Community on the library on March 6. “There have been some value overruns, which isn’t sudden in right this moment’s atmosphere.”
The ultimate value got here in at $17.5 million, about $700,000 over funds. With a $ 4 million fundraising objective, $3.4 million was raised.
To make up for the shortfall, the library board is asking the town for a complete of $1 million.
“It’s a particularly busy facility,” Murphy stated. “We went again to the town in search of an extra $1 million, payable over two years, which we predict could be very cheap.”
MacPherson stated the town dedicated $1.3 million over three years to the capital marketing campaign, starting within the municipality’s 2021-22 operation funds.
“That’s about seven or eight per cent of the entire funds, whereas the province and federal governments have pledged over 70 per cent of the entire funds,” MacPherson stated.
“We’re actually in search of the town to step up and get nearer to a fair proportion. When you think about the place the library is situated and who the principal beneficiary is when it comes to the municipality, the town of Charlottetown is clearly that.”
MacPherson attributed the price overruns to the warfare in Ukraine, which led to document gasoline costs and elevated value of supplies, as nicely COVID-19’s influence on provide chain points and the price of provides.
“And a few of them had been surprises you get once you’re coping with a 68-year-old constructing,” he stated, referring to the Dominion Constructing.
Murphy stated he feels optimistic the town will come to the desk and assist tackle the price overruns primarily based on a common understanding of what the brand new library means to the neighborhood.
MacPherson additionally identified that the province pays nearly the whole invoice to run the library. The town’s contribution to the each day operations is the price of one full-time wage.
Murphy added that the Charlottetown Library Studying Centre can’t be in comparison with the library that used to function throughout the road on the Confederation Centre of the Arts, which closed final spring.
“It is a completely totally different facility, providing totally different applications,” Murphy stated. “It’s additionally an equalizer. It’s a spot the place you may go the place you don’t need to spend cash to get in, the place you don’t need to spend cash to make use of the amenities. It’s benefiting lots of people in Charlottetown proper now.”
Metropolis council will launch its operational funds later this month.
Do you know?
- The Charlottetown Library Studying Centre had greater than 32,000 guests in August 2022.
Dave Stewart is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. He will be reached by e-mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @DveStewart.
