Gallery staff should have been laid off
Re: Tax increase to fund Remai art gallery
From 2015 through Oct. 20, 2017, $5,802,775 has been paid in salaries and benefits to the art gallery staff, even though we did not have a gallery for them to work in.
It’s understood that there was some work required, to pack exhibits when the Mendel gallery closed and unpacking prior to the new gallery opening but come on, nearly $6 million worth of work, I don’t think so.
This is at a time when services are being cut (i.e. garbage pickup at Christmas and pay-as-you-go garbage collection), the city debt is approaching $400 million and we are facing nearly a five per cent tax increase next year.
If the gallery staff were laid off when the Mendel closed and were rehired just prior to the new gallery opening, (as would occur at any other business when work slows down or disappears), we would not have a need for a tax increase of nearly five per cent in the coming year.
When you look at the salaries made by the top level decision makers at city hall, you would think they would have the expertise to figure out a no brainier like this one.
No work, no employees needed until the work returns.
The gallery staff should have been laid off and collected EI benefits or got another job like many other taxpayers have had to do.
In addition, the gallery apparently now requires an additional five-plus staff to run the new gallery.
Does it never end? Ken Morken, Saskatoon
If the gallery staff were laid off when the Mendel closed and were rehired just prior to the new gallery opening, (as would occur at any other business when work slows down or disappears) we would not have a need for a tax increase of nearly five per cent... Ken Morken