Platform
Part 3 Fiscal Responsibility
Physical Assets:
Whitby is fortunate to own many assets throughout the town. Managing these assets properly takes business sense which means thinking like a business person to make them successful. Regrettably though, our elected leaders have instead handled them differently with the end result being assets that fail to live up to their expectations, which in turn costs the town significant amounts of money. To illustrate what I mean, I have selected 3 examples of mismanaged and under-utilized assets that over the years have cost the taxpayer Millions.
- Heydenshore Pavilion:
This banquet hall which is situated directly on our beautiful underutilized waterfront is in significant need of both repair and an upgrade. Given its state Pat Perkins herself will not use this town owned facility to host either her annual Whitby Chamber of Commerce “State of Whitby” address and her “just announced” Gala to raise money for her pie in the sky “Performing Arts Centre”. Over the past two years (3 events in total) instead of holding her events there, UNBELIEVABLY our Mayor has chosen to stage these events in Oshawa. Yes, Oshawa…this isn’t a misprint!
One has to seriously wonder that if this facility in Whitby is not good enough for Mayor Perkins and her Three prestigious events, why should we keep it and expect folks to rent it for their functions ?!
Heydenshore Pavilion is good enough to host our Whitby Sports hall of fame Gala Dinner and our Annual Chamber Of Commerce Citizen of the year and Business Awards Gala Dinner (Peter Perry awards) yet it’s not good enough for our current Mayor’s 3 major events? Optics are everything in this regard and if the Mayor doesn’t see Heydenshore as worthy enough to hold her own events, why should the Town keep a facility that loses $140,000 per year of real taxpayer dollars?
B) Sports Garden Café:
Few Whitby residents are likely aware that the Town owns and operates (thru a Toronto based management company) this restaurant and bar. The café currently loses approximately $120,000 per year of your real tax dollars and has been operating at a loss for many years. This situation has taken place during the administrations of both Mayor Perkins and former Mayor Brunelle. It competes with other restaurants/bars in Whitby that are owned and operated by private citizens, who manage their properties with the goal of making a profit, and who also pay taxes to the Town. One can only imagine how much the café would cost taxpayers with its mismanaged style if it had to pay rent or pay taxes. The Town has no business being in any business other than running our town and this is a classic example of why!
C) Cullen Park:
This confidential purchase was orchestrated by Marcel Brunelle while he was Mayor and was supported completely by Pat Perkins. It will sadly go down in Whitby’s history as perhaps the biggest and most costly financial bungle ever. The price paid for this property in 2005 as we later discovered was $8.2 Million. Not a single appraisal was done nor a debate held, they paid the full asking price.
Once purchased, the Town also immediately invested $500,000 in order to bring the buildings up to building code since no provisions were in the agreement that required the previous owner to do so.
The reason for the purchase as stated by Mayor Brunelle was to keep it out of the hands of developers. The ironic thing though was that two thirds of the property was already protected by C.L.O.C.A.. After 4 years and Millions of dollars of carrying charges, upkeep and losses paid for by the Whitby taxpayer, a decision was made to dispose of the property.
A nearly $1 Million study into the matter was completed and the decision was made to sell. After much debate and staff and council time and many studies the winning bidder was Le Nordik Nature Spa ownership group. They are obligated to pay fair market price for the useable land and all indications suggest it will be in the $5 Million range. When you factor in the amount of lost tax revenues over the years ($120,000 per year) as well as lost return on investment dollars ($ 400,000 per year) along with the costs for improvements, the financial hit to the Whitby taxpayer will be in the range of $6 Million plus. An estimated $ 6 million dollar loss !!!
If this debacle had taken place in the real world, where personal or shareholder dollars were spent instead of public taxpayer dollars, one can be certain that people would have been held accountable and fired! With this election and after learning the sad truth, Whitby taxpayers will have their chance to do so. You simply cannot expect to lose $ 6 million dollars of your boss’s money and keep your job can you? Our MAYOR and former MAYOR do.
Rocky’s Answer:
- Heydenshore Pavilion:
We will first look to lease out the facility to a private enterprise and have them invest in the needed renovations to make it viable and competitive for Weddings, Banquets and more. Failing that our second choice would be to invest in it ourselves and ensure that the capital costs will be recovered by the increased revenue that a revitalized facility will generate. We will also require that all Town sponsored events be held within the Town of Whitby unless there are compelling reasons why it cannot happen.
Whichever route we choose, the one thing that is certain is that we will stop the bleeding and put $140,000 (minimum) back in the coffers of the Town.
- Sports Garden Café:
This facility will be leased out to an independent operator or chain at a very reasonable rent to ensure success. The Town will benefit by receiving income from rent as well as from the taxes it collects. This should put close to $200,000 back into our coffers.
2. Cullen Park:
The deal will be completed with Le Nordik Nature Spa ownership group, and the losses will be put in the books. However we will put an end to the bleeding of $600,000 plus per year. In addition we will work with the new spa to help promote it, thus ensuring its success and guaranteeing the Town a constant and significant source of taxes.
These 3 simple moves alone will return $1 million dollars per year to you the Whitby taxpayer in order to be used to assist me in holding the line on tax increases moving forward.
As mentioned above I simply chose three. There have been bungle after bungle and if Pat wins this election her $ 80 million dollar performing art’s centre will ruin us for years to come. If we cannot manage just the 3 properties above how does she expect to manage a Performing Arts Centre? It’s that simple folks!
Commitments like these are always ambitious, but I believe they are achievable and necessary. With so much to be proud of and so much to look forward to, I believe there has never been a more important time to bring back the powerful sense of community and pride that other communities that will make Whitby flourish again!
CRIME:
With growing communities there can be so many positives and in turn some not so positive. Personal crime is on the rise region wide and Whitby must be pro active in ensuring our Citizens remain safe. I have a complete “safer community” plan put together with DRPS senior management to keep Whitby safe and a very positive relationship with Chief Ewles and his Senior staff. I will move for a stronger presence in our downtown with more bike and foot patrols.
I will establish a “crime task force” to meet 4 times a year or more as needed made up of Citizens and current and past Law enforcement staff and management to lead the way and make Whitby one of the safest communities anywhere.
Business vs Residential
While spending as much time out in the community as I have since announcing my candidacy, I’ve had the opportunity to hear what people think of both me as well as my ideas if elected Mayor. One thing that has come up a few times that I think needs to be addressed is the belief that I am someone who is far more PRO Business than I am PRO resident.
I consider Bob Attersly to be not only a Mentor and a supporter of mine, but arguably the best Mayor that Whitby has ever had. I think that he perhaps said it best when, on the subject of community, he offered this: “Community by definition is its identity – it’s all inclusive, but it’s also a sense of freedom and security which allows us to grow cohesively.” to read more click here
A Commitment To Change
During any typical political campaign, you are guaranteed to hear a typical collection of clichés that are just about as tiresome as they are old. Electors have every right to be cynical about those seeking public office since they hear the same promises and claims all the time, yet seldom see those promises kept.
Admittedly by pointing this out, it leaves me a bit vulnerable since, like any other candidate, I have promises to make and some have been said many times before. However, having said that, I think it’s still important for you to know what types of promises and statements I am making to you as I seek your vote when electing the next Mayor of Whitby. To read more click here
High Taxes And The High Price We Pay Because Of Them
One of my greatest concerns as both a resident and a business owner in Whitby has to do with the incredibly high level of property taxes that we pay.
Over the past few years it seems like annual tax increases of 4%, 5% and even 6% have become the norm. These annual hikes are placing an ever increasing burden on local taxpayers to where one has to wonder just how much more can we take! To read more click here
Recognizing the Community Leaders of Whitby
One of the many things that I love so much about Whitby is the quality of people that live here.
Rooted deep within the fabric of this ever changing and evolving town has been a lasting belief that the community is stronger when people work together to make it so. Famous Playwright George Bernard Shaw once said: “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what ever I can” and I have been witness to countless examples over the years of people who live Shaw’s words wholeheartedly and without reservation. To read more click here
Keep checking this page periodically for details or, alternatively send us an e-mail to campaign@rockyformayor.com and ask to be added to our contact list.
