Councillor says Remai Modern budget, attendance targets are 'too ambitious'

Saskatoon'snew multi-million dollar art gallery won'tbe asking for any more cash from taxpayers, even if it fails to meet its fundraising and attendance targets, citycouncillorswere told Monday.

TheRemai Modern's budget dominated the first few hours of debate as councillorsstart reviewing plans for a4.96-per-cent property tax hike for2018.

The city will contribute $5.4 million to staff and operate the new gallery in 2018. The gallery hopes to self-generate another $5.4 million on its own.

The gallery is already exceedingmembership and attendance targets. So far, 34,000 people have come through the door.

'What happens if that revenue falls short?'

But there were questions about whether those kinds of numbers were sustainable.

"I don't think we are going to see that every month going forward," Coun. Darren Hill said.

Coun. Randy Donauer had similar concerns.

"I want you to plan for success and I wish you the greatest success, but what happens if that revenue falls short?"Donauersaid.

But another city councillor even said the goals might be too lofty.

"I do think this budget is tooaggressiveand too ambitious, but I do hope it comes tofruition," saidCouncillorBevDubois.

City councillors were toldthat even if the gallery fails to meet itsattendanceand fundraising targets, the gallery board won't be coming back to taxpayers to ask for more cash.Instead, they were told, any shortfall wouldmean cuts to programming at the gallery.

Mayor says board will keep gallery on budget

"Our hope is that we would not be running a deficit," HerbMcFaull, the fundraising board chair for theRemaiModern, told council.

Next year, the gallery's operating budget is expected to increase to more than $10 million, but the city's contribution is expected to remain the same.

Mayor Charlie Clark told reporters he has confidence in the gallery board to make the proper adjustments to make sure the gallery stays on budget.

But he says the gallery needs to focus on local citizens.

"We want to see visitors from all over the world there is no question. But it also needs to be a place that people right here in the city, who are going to be the most active users, come and participate in," said Clark.

"And the programming and delivery on that will be key."

The $84.6-millionfacility is home to 406 Picasso linocuts and stands as the potential site of future Juno Awards, the city hopes.

Questions about Indigenous representation raised

Aside from concerns about budgets and attendance figures, one city councillor also raised concerns about the number of Indigenous staff working at the Remai.

Gregory Burke, the gallery's CEO, says there are currently four part-time staff members who identify as Indigenous. He says there is no formal target for hiring Indigenous staff members, but it is something the board is always working on.

"We are increasing our Indigenous representation on staff," Burke said.

Hiring freeze also up for debate

The city wants to add 36.8 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) next year: everything from new Remai Modern staff to more snow and ice removers to helpreach the goal of city-wide snow clearance.

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The new hires would join a city staff (including the Saskatoon Police Service, Saskatoon Light and Power, Saskatoon Public Library and other city-owned entities) that currently numbers just over 3,800 FTEs.

Here's how many people work for the city per every 1,000 residents, for some perspective.

7 positions on the bubble

The city also wants to get rid of seven FTEs, making for a proposed net increase of 29.8 FTEs.

Some of those proposed cutbacks, like the ones eyed for the city-owned TCU Place convention and theatre venue, have already sparked concern.

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Councillor Randy Donauer has floated the idea of not hiring those 36.8 new people, a move that would save just over $3 million.

But a hiring freeze would not put a major dent in the estimated 4.96-per-cent property tax increase.

That's because only one-fifth of the cost forthose new employees, or $605,300, would be covered by property taxes; the remaining $2.5 millionwould come from utility rates, government funding and other sources.

The freeze would merely reduce the property tax hike to 4.69 per cent.

In-house graphic designers

Some of the other proposed new jobs include a part-time position to run a summer playground program in the Stonebridge neighbourhood and a full-time person to help the city keep responding to the Calls to Action released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

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The city also wants to hire two in-house graphic designers. The suggestion comes after one city councillor was taken by surprise by how expensive it was to farm out the design of the city's garbage and recycling collection calendar.

The full list of positions the city wants to add or eliminate is at the bottom of this story. Don't see it or on mobile? Click here.

Consider computers

The North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) will be among the groups closely watching this week's budget talks.

The NSBA wants the city to consider automation for routine processes.

The city already has. Two positions in its revenue services are poised for the chopping block in 2018 due the automation of advanced meter reading.

Councillorsbegan to poreover the budget Monday at city hall.Debate time has also been slotted for Tuesday and Wednesday.

CBC reporter Charles Hamilton will be tweeting live from this year's budget deliberations. You can follow his tweets below. On mobile? Click here.