Jan 2010

The City of Portage al Prairie will now know how much it will spend on recreation as council approved the regional recreation authority’s budget at a special meeting on Dec. 22.

City council approved the budget of the Portage Regional Recreation Authority (PRRA) at just under $1.6 million with the city providing 75 per cent of that and the Rural Municipality of Portage kicking in the other 25 per cent for a split of approximately $1.2 million for the city and $400,000 for the RM.

“City council has reviewed and is prepared to approve the PRRA budget for 2010,” Coun. Dave Quinn, chairman of the city’s finance, legislative and property committee, said at the meeting.

RM of Portage council approved the budget at its regular meeting earlier in the day.

The joint agreement between the city and RM that created the PRRA states annual funding for the PRRA will be paid in nine consecutive monthly payments commencing on or before Jan. 5.

Worth noting, said Coun. Janet Shindle, chairwoman of the PRRA board, is that the increase to the city’s cost on recreation is only an additional $100,600.

In 2009, the city spent about $1.1 million on recreation, she noted.

“Having a partner has made it possible to do this,” Shindle said.

Shindle also noted that although city administration, particularly the PRRA’s executive director Jen Sarna, worked tirelessly on this budget, some of the numbers are cost estimations.

“This is projection in some of these areas,” she said.

It’s important for people to realize the city’s increased cost for recreation is relatively low, Coun. Walter Keryluk said, as people were assuming it would be a lot more with the completion of the Portage Credit Union Centre.

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“A lot of people are thinking that it is in the millions, but that’s not the case,” he noted.

The PRRA is responsible for Splash Island, the PCU Centre, Republic of Manitobah Park, Oakville Arena and recreation programs in the city.

Council voted unanimously to approve the budget with councillors Irvine Ferris and Orville Wagner absent from the meeting.

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