Library condo fees jump 20 per cent in one year
$53,000 increase has some councillors asking if it's time for a standalone library
Randi Beers
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 21, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A steep rise in condo fees has some city councillors wondering if the public library should move out of Centre Square Mall.
Carl Bird, director of corporate services, told council on Monday the fees have risen 19.9 per cent, or approximately $53,000, over last year during his capital budget presentation.
The public library's annual condo fee is now $303,951.
Coun. Rebecca Alty told Yellowknifer this jump has her wondering whether it would make more sense for the library to move out of its location on the second floor of the mall.
"This is a substantial jump for one year," she said.
"Considering how much we pay in condo fees already it might be time to look at ... whether the condo model is the best."
She said she'll be asking administration for a feasibility study into a standalone library during budget debates over the next few weeks.
Coun. Linda Bussey says she'll also be asking for a "serious study" into future possibilities for the library, saying she actually brought this issue up during the budget debate last year.
While Coun. Adrian Bell says he could be willing to "entertain the discussion," he believes rising condo fees and the library's location are two different issues.
"There is a good case for a (standalone) library, but the argument isn't related to the condo fee increase," he said, adding condo fees are just a division of expenses and he doesn't believe anybody is making a profit off the rate hike.
"It's whether Yellowknifers want a modern, accessible library. The number one complaint we get is accessibility."
Coun. Niels Konge didn't comment on whether he would support a standalone library, but he said it makes sense condo fees have gone up in response to the rising cost of living in Yellowknife.
"Power rate increase, tax increase, garbage fee increase, water and sewer fee increase and the city somehow magically thought the condo fees would not go up," he stated in an e-mail to Yellowknifer.
"This is the reality for every home owner (and) property owner in the city. This is why it's becoming so difficult for people to stay."
Bird said he couldn't comment on whether its sustainable to keep the library in Centre Square Mall in the wake of this year's fee increase.
"If we had our own separate property we would be paying to maintain that building," he said.
"So I can't comment on the cost of a standalone library.
It's hard to compare what we pay now to what we would pay for that."
He explained the library's footprint straddles two separate condo corporations - Condo Corp. No. 9 and Condo Corp. No. 16 - within Centre Square Mall. The condo corporations set fees when they develop their annual budgets.
"This is a very significant increase, which does happen occasionally when electricity rates go up," he said, adding it's historically been rare for both corporations to raise fees at the same time, as is the case here.
Administration has not adjusted the library's $1.2 million dollar budget to reflect the increased condo fees. Bird explained the fees are paid through the city's general fund and becomes part of the city's overall expenses.
Yellowknifer could not reach either condo corporation for comment.
City council will be debating next year's budget over the next few weeks.
