Tonight (April 30), Prince George city councillors will be discussing what to do about the financial impacts of COVID-19 during a special city council meeting.
One item up for discussion is the closure of the Four Seasons Leisure Pool (FSLP).
A staff report found the city is currently saving $165,000 per month with both pools closed.
Reopening the Aquatic Centre, and not reopening the FSLP before the end of the year, will reduce these monthly savings between $40,000 to $125,000 per month.
The report also found that 83 per cent of visits to FSLP are for swim lessons.
Staff suggests that if physical distancing requirements remain in effect, swim lessons will not be available for the near future, meaning the FSLP would likely see minimal visits.
The report says from an operational and financial perspective, keeping the FSLP open without swim lessons doesn't make sense.
A new pool set to replace the FSLP is also in the works, originally intended to be completed in Summer 2022, however, the impacts of COVID-19 could possibly delay the construction of that facility as well.
The total cost to run the pool per year with labour, utilities, and supplies equals about $1.5 million.
Council will also be looking at options for reducing the 2020 tax levy increase from 3.44 per cent to either less than two or one per cent.
City staff have recommended a 2020 tax levy increase of 1.75 per cent that would result in an approximate reduction from $77 per year ($6.42 per month) to $39 per year ($3.25 per month) to the representative home.
Administration says to reduce the tax levy increase to less than 1.75 per cent this year, without causing a “spike” in the tax levy in 2021, it would require permanent staff and service reductions.
To achieve a zero per cent tax levy for 2020, the city would have to lay-off about 37 full-time staff.
The special meeting is scheduled to be held on tonight at 6 p.m. in council chambers at city hall, but will be live-streamed on the City of Prince George's website.
The financial plan bylaw and the annual property tax bylaw must be passed before May 15 of each year.
Staff is recommending that council approves recommendations tonight related to the tax levy increase, and then grants first three and final readings of the financial plan and tax rate bylaws during the May 11 council meeting.
