Thunder Bay’s Community Auditorium has a previously unreported two million dollar debt.

Before TBay Council Monday

THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO  ~~~~~   December 11, 2022 (LSNews)  Thunder Bay’s Community Auditorium has a previously unreported two million dollar debt.

Now, city hall staff are recommending taxpayers bail out the auditorium board.

A report to councillors doesn’t explain how the auditorium accumulated the debt. But last week, the auditorium’s manager announced the cancellation of the 2023 version of Blues Fest to concentrate on getting its finances in order.

The bad news is contained in a report authorizing city hall staff to draft and approve a new lease with the auditorium’s board. It’s part of a larger plan to put the auditorium operation at greater arms’ length from city hall.

City hall staff also recommend the auditorium be given a $500K loan to fund ongoing operations and access to another $500K for “special events”.

City hall wants to give the auditorium board more autonomy. That’s to allow the board to apply for higher-level government grants to fund its operations and do its own fundraising.

City councillors have already met behind closed doors to discuss the debt and the city’s relationship with the auditorium board. Now, city hall staff are asking council for authority to conclude a new lease to implement the changes.

On Monday, city hall staff will ask for authority to negotiate all the final arrangements and then execute them.

That leaves in doubt whether the public will ever find out who is to be responsible for any future debt or how the auditorium board and management will be accountable to taxpayers.

Shane Judge

#LSN_Econ #LSN_Arts  #LSN_TBay 

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