I agree with Bob Molland (Letter to editor Friday April 25) that we need a referendum on the Performing Art Centre being proposed for Prince George.
The issue of the PAC has been around for some 20 years and the issue has never been settled to anyone's satisfaction.
City administration will be providing council with information on this project in June of this year. This information should contain the proposed scope of the project, the location, hopefully the full cost, and hopefully the cost of operation and maintenance per annum.
Let there be no doubt that the PAC being considered will come in around $45-50 million dollars with operating costs of some $500,000 per year. When the city spends this kind of money it logically follows that the taxpayers should have a vote on the project.
In times past the city would avoid a referendum stating that the cost was too prohibitive (some $78,000), and instead would opt for an alternative approval process, that usually worked in their favour.
This time around, we will have (or should have) all the information we need by June of this year, and be able to hold a referendum at the elections in November, thus avoiding any additional costs.
So, what possible excuse can the city give for not holding a referendum? One they might try to use is that if they do not borrow any money then there is no need for a referendum, which on the surface is true, however on the other hand, the city portion for the cost of this venture would come from the sale of city land, which in effect is owned by the citizens of Prince George, and therefore we are entitled to a vote on how this money is spent.
This is a golden opportunity for the yayor, council, and city administration to do the right thing, and put the PAC to a referendum, and have the issue settled once and for all by those who are most affected - taxpayers.
Let's watch closely between now and election day, and see whether or not the mayor and council will actually give us a voice in this huge expenditure.
Eric Allen
Prince George
