A difference of opinion amongst West 琉璃神社 councillors over how to pay for a new video score clock for Royal LePage Place.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 23, council debated whether the $600,000 project should be paid for through the Growing Communities Fund or capital reserves.

The city received $10.2 million dollars from the provincial fund in 2023.

Coun. Rick de Jong made the motion that it be paid for by the fund.

鈥淚 believe it鈥檚 well-suited and it would be nice not to have to touch other reserves.鈥�

Carol Zannon was against using money from the fund.

鈥淭his is not a limitless, bottomless money pit. This is a nice project but to me, it is not in the same category.鈥�

Coun. Stephen Johnston said he felt capital reserve funds were a more appropriate use as the score clock is owned by the city and is an aging asset.

鈥淚 think that we have a lot of growth coming up that the Growing Communities Fund can help with. It鈥檚 not a hill to die on just a perspective.鈥�

Council voted to take the $600,000 from the fund instead of capital reserves with councillors Zannon and Johnston opposed.

Replacing the 20-year-old score clock also requires expanding the media gondola.

Royal LePage Place will need to be shut down from May 27 to July 21 so that work can be completed.

鈥淭he financial implication of that is about $20,000 in lost revenue,鈥� Erin Goodwin, facilities and recreation manager, told council.

However, he noted that the new clock will initially provide approximately $12,000 a year in revenue for the city.

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