To the editor:
One thing people don't seem to understand is that arenas and sports facilities are not income producers. They represent a financial impact that must be borne by all taxpayers. Currently, the three arenas are adding $2.5 million a year to tax bills.
The issue has always been the cost and location of the options currently being considered, not whether or not North Bay needs additional ice surfaces.
Currently, the arguments and options being offered by city staff do not address those issues. The suggestion that new residents will be attracted and maintained if we have a $70 or $80 million arena is highly doubtful. This idea of additional events and sports tourism was used to promote the Memorial Gardens renewal. In the last 10 years, one can count on one hand the number of events that have been held at the arena, and while sports tourism does offer some benefits for the businesses involved in that field, it does little, if anything, to reduce the cost to taxpayers. What people want is a job in a community that has affordable taxes.
A Sprung structure, which is an alternative, modern, and viable solution at a fraction of the cost of traditional brick-and-mortar structures, has never been followed up on in any serious manner.
Let's do away with the idea that money is no object and consider the ability of taxpayers to support the bureaucracy at city hall, as well as every suggested pipe dream.
Donald Rennick CPA, CA
North Bay
