Taxpayers could foot $200K bill for new city hall fitness centre

Bramptonguardian.com
Dec. 6, 2016
By Peter Criscione

At a time when municipal finances are tight, the city is looking to splurge on a new fitness area for its employees.

“A lot of our staff are now spending 10 to 12 hours a day in the building,” said Coun. Grant Gibson about a 2017 capital budget item he argued would “go a long way for our staff's mental and physical wellness.”

City councillors are working on next year’s fiscal plan. While officials managed to trim down the projected levy increase from 4.9 per cent to just over 3 per cent, some items taxpayers are being asked to pay for next year are raising eyebrows.

The 2017 capital budget includes $200,000 for a new employee fitness room in the West Tower that would feature cardio machines, strength training and other amenities that “support a healthy workplace.”

“This has been the trend in big business,” said Gibson.

Money for the fitness area is not specified in the public budget document. It is included as part of the overall capital budget proposal.

Councillors voted 5-4 to keep the expenditure in the 2017 budget plan, which some councillors argue makes little sense when the city is struggling to find efficiencies.

“This doesn’t send a good message when we are looking to raise taxes,” said Regional Coun. Martin Medeiros, noting taxpayers already subsidize city employee gym memberships.

Mayor Linda Jeffrey opened budget deliberations last week, talking up recommendations put forth by former Ontario auditor general Jim McCarter following his report into the state of Brampton’s financial health.

City officials have committed to following through on many of McCarter’s recommendations, including gutting the city’s roster of senior managers.

In order to keep a handle on the tax hike, the city has also decided to hold up spending $2.5 million next year in upgrades to the aging Lester B. Pearson Theatre.

With taxpayers facing a third consecutive budget increase above the inflation rate, some councillors are calling for council's restraint. Medeiros argued the budget request is excessive.

Councillors also heard a proposal this week that would allocate $600,000 toward retrofitting the sixth floor of city hall - the third time that floor would undergo renovations in nearly as many years.

“We don’t have a balanced budget right now,” Medeiros said.

Coun. Pat Fortini said, the money would be better spent on subsidizing other initiatives such as bumping up existing rebates to residents for snow clearing.

Councillors Medeiros, Fortini, Jeff Bowman and Jeffrey voted against spending cash on the fitness area. Councillor Elaine Moore, Gibson, Michael Palleschi, John Sprovieri and Gurpreet Dhillon voted in favour.

Council will meet to approve the 2017 budget document on Dec. 14.