City considers $300,000 contribution to Hall of Fame
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If we build it, will they come?
A Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in Merritt could be a major tourist attraction, but the City wants to know if locals are willing to support a potential tax increase to support the project.
A public meeting has been scheduled for Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
Merrittonians are encouraged to come out to hear the issues and give their feedback to Council, who will vote the following week on whether or not to contribute $300,000 for the Hall of Fame.
The Walk of Stars Society received approval of a grant application from the provincial and federal governments for a combined $900,000 if the Society contributes an additional $300,000.
The Society has requested support in this amount from the City.
City staff suggested the money can be made available through re-allocation of other city projects to next year’s budget.
That would mean, for example, the De Wolf Way project, for which there is almost $400,000 set aside, would be put off until next year.
A six per cent tax increase for a period of five years is one option for covering the cost of that project.
There is also the possibility there would be no cost to tax payers if the Walk of Stars Society is able to recoup funds through other grants.
At a special meeting Nov. 3, Council was strongly divided on the proposal.
A Hall of Fame would mean a permanent designation of Merritt as the official country music capital of Canada, but the cost is not insignificant.
“How do we get the money back? It’s a bad investment,” said Coun. Mike Geotz. “It’s $300,000 of the public’s money and they need to know about it.”
Like Geotz, Councillors Nadia Hunter and Harry Kroeker said they were not sure the funding, and possibly a temporary six per cent tax increase, would be approved by the community.
But Coun. Shelley Sanders, Coun. Alastair Murdoch and, particularly, mayor Roline expressed their emphatic support in favour of the Hall of Fame.
Roline suggested this opportunity will not present itself again.
“We lose a lot if we don’t move forward,” she said. “We’ll never get this back.”
If Merritt does not accept the designation of country music capital of Canada, other cities, like Calgary, are waiting next in line to accept the offer.
Coun. Murdoch agreed, saying people should realize this is an investment opportunity, not a financial gift from the City.
The City could own the building in which the Hall of Fame is housed.
“We will have an asset in our books worth $1.2 million,” he said. “The other governments will be kicking in three-quarters of the total cost. This dream will cost us 25 cents on the dollar. I think that is a very good investment.”
Whether the public agrees a Hall of Fame would be a solid investment or an unwanted tax hike is the big question, and Council is eager to find out.
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