Civic partners raise alarm over budgets
Heritage Park is warning that it’s facing a “crisis” of rising costs and declining attendance that could force the park to cut programming if it doesn’t receive more financial assistance from the city.
The historical village told a council committee Monday that it faces a budget deficit for the first time in its history thanks to a maelstrom of factors, including minimum wage hikes, the carbon tax and repairs to the Glenmore Dam that have sidelined one of the park’s most popular attractions.
“We are at the limit of what can be taken away without serious risks to customer satisfaction, reputation and relevance, not to mention the physical condition of our priceless historical assets,” said CEO Alida Visbach.
“We have been reducing costs and hours and staff for three years, but are struggling to keep up to increases. We are not able to simply charge more at the gate as we already face rate resistance.
“Our next option is to cut even more programming, but this will lead to lower attendance and lower overall revenues.”
Heritage Park estimates that the cumulative impact of minimum wage increases and the carbon levy on expenses will reach more than $1.7 million by 2019.
Visbach added that the drydocking of the popular S.S. Moyie paddleboat last spring as a result of flood-mitigation repairs on the Glenmore Dam has contributed to a 19- to 21-per-cent reduction in visitors.
Coun. Jeromy Farkas slammed municipal and provincial decisions that have contributed to Heritage Park’s financial woes as “misguided” Monday, suggesting he’ll urge his council colleagues to step up funding for the beleaguered organization.
“After 50 years of solid financial stewardship, Heritage Park is in financial crisis,” he said.
“Now’s the time for us to step up and actually match the effort that they’re putting in, especially recognizing the tremendous impact and value for money that supporting Heritage Park delivers for Calgarians.”
Monday’s meeting of civic partners saw more than a dozen cityfunded organizations appeal to council for more funding ahead of the next four-year municipal budget.
The meeting was a preview of November budget deliberations at city hall that are expected to result in cuts to spending and municipal services.
Trying economic conditions since the downturn, as well as municipal budgets that have curtailed community investment in recent years, have hurt Calgary’s non-profit organizations from the arts, tourism, heritage, sport and health sectors.
Arts Commons, Calgary Arts Development, the Parks Foundation and Telus Spark all report being hit hard by declines in corporate sponsorships and donations.
Many of the city’s civic partners called on council Monday to support significant increases to their operating, life cycle and capital grants over the next four years.
Calgary Arts Development — the city’s primary arts granting authority — is requesting an increase in annual operating grants from $6.4 million in 2018 to $19.5 million by 2019.
Coun. Druh Farrell said the funding requests, particularly from arts and culture groups, are attempts by the sector to “catch up” after years of chronic under-investment.
Farrell said she is struggling to rationalize a possible “austerity budget” in November with continued discussions occurring around an Olympic bid.
“We have so many fundamental organizations that provide incredible quality of life for Calgary and we’re talking about cutting them at the same time we’re talking about the Olympics.”