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LETTER: Councillors and the public deserve the full picture on a new library

Ward 1 councillor Dan Gibson said the cost to build – and operate – a new library have to be looked at in full context
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GuelphToday received the following letter from Ward 1 councillor Dan Gibson regarding a new main library.

Are Guelph City councillors (and the public) being asked to make a $62 million library decision in isolation of the full context?

I believe the answer is yes, and it's time to bring the broader context to light.

Despite some insisting that we should "just get on with it," many in this debate are avoiding some of the most critical questions and information that cannot be ignored or overlooked anymore. Those being, how does the Guelph Public Library service compare to other cities our size in Ontario?

In an era where municipalities benchmark everything to help support decision making, why are Guelph City councillors (and the public) not being provided similar benchmarking for the $62M library decision?

Thankfully, Guelph councillors (as well as the public), have access to the highly respected BMA Consultants Municipal Study, which is widely accepted as preeminent benchmark study completed every year on behalf of Ontario Municipalities. Of importance to note, the City of Guelph pays for this report each year in order to keep an eye on how our costs of services stack up against other similar sized cities in Ontario (populations >100,000). So what does this report tell us about our valued Library Service?

The data could not be more clear, the Guelph Public Library is the second highest per capita funded library service in all of Ontario. At $65 per capita, the budget surpasses the provincial average ($46) by more than 40 per cent. This leaves no doubt, Guelph values and supports its public library.

But these are only the current costs. They do not take into acount the decision before council to proceed with a new $62 million library. A library which comes with an additional 20 year ($19.7 million), special tax levy and a projected annual increase of $3.5 million per year in operating costs (an approximate 1.5 per cent increase in property taxes).

All during a global pandemic where evidence indicates one in four Guelph households are (or have in recent months) experienced income insecurity and accessed some form of government support.

These are the facts and they have real impacts on Guelph households.

These costs cannot simply be compared to "a couple extra cups of coffee."

Councillors and the public deserve the full picture.