From the Portage Daily Graphic

The Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie is hoping the information in a newsletter on the recreational multiplex will be well received.

The RM sent out information packages regarding the multiplex project to its ratepayers Jan. 30. The package contained a breakdown of costs for the project and the tax implications involved for property owners in the RM.

The package was released after the RM council gave first reading to a $6.2-million borrowing bylaw. That amount will be repaid over 15 years with an estimated interest rate of seven per cent. The RM has already taken roughly $1.8 million from its reserves to start paying for construction on the project, which is underway at the Island Park fairgrounds in Portage.

Ratepayer Dwayne Leslie said he was hoping the RM package would include more information.

“When I heard they were sending out a package, I presumed it would include detailed costs for my family farm, a business plan, future expansion plans, fundraising efforts to date, a final cost and details on what exactly will be included in the new Portage Recreation Authority,” he said on Feb. 4. “The one piece of paper mailed out does not cover any of these things, so I was very disappointed with the reeve’s attempt to put a positive spin on this project.”

Ratepayer Lorne Henry, on the other hand, said he was pleased with the package and supports the RM’s efforts to move the multiplex project along.

“I didn’t have concerns with what the RM was doing anyway,” he said on Feb. 3, adding the fairest system for the RM to meet its $8-million commitment to the PCU Centre is an across-the-board tax on all ratepayers.

“If you start separating houses over land, that doesn’t work. The fairest way is to put (the tax) on everything. It may not be perfect, but it’s the fairest way we can come up with,” Henry said. “Your tax increase is about 3.5 per cent for 15 years, then it is paid off.”

In the information package, the RM says it will not require any future tax increase for the multiplex, beyond the 3.5 per cent increase in the mill rate in 2008.

The RM council also built up its reserves so it would not have to borrow as much for the project, putting away $500,000 in 2008 and 2009, and using some other money it had in reserves.

While the budget hasn’t been finalized for 2009, the RM has indicated it does not appear it will need a tax increase for the multiplex in 2009.

An RM official said the information package was put together to clarify any misunderstandings of how taxes will be increased and the amount they are increasing. The RM also wanted to respond to ratepayers’ concerns there wasn’t enough information available. It issued the bulletin to advise ratepayers how the RM plans on funding the multiplex.

Oakville-area farmer Kam Blight said the package is late in arriving and does not answer all the ratepayers’ concerns.

“I feel that it is over a year too late,” he said. “I feel it is lacking in transparency. In my opinion, the information is just too sugar-coated (on) how much your taxes are actually increasing this year. It is not stating what the true cost of this project really is to RM ratepayers.”

The borrowing bylaw will need to be approved by the Manitoba Municipal Board before it is given second and third reading and passed by the RM council.

RM of Portage Deputy Reeve Bill Alford said the package could not be made available earlier as the council was still working on gathering the details.

“The council was hoping to get the correct numbers out to people,” he said on Feb. 4.

Alford said if anyone has any questions about the information provided or needs additional cost breakdowns they can call the RM office directly.