Skip to content

No tax hike connected to Sherbrooke Summer Games, official says

Denies claim by local critic town raised taxes to pay for 2013 Games
070217_summer_games
Thomas Price says Sherbrooke, Que., had to increase taxes by 25 per cent to pay for the 2013 Summer Games. That's news to her, says the deputy CEO of the Sherbrooke Games, who says the event actually ran a surplus. File photo.

In a letter to Sudbury.com, an adviser to Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini warns that city councillors should be aware of potentially huge tax increases should the city win the right to host the 2021 Canada Summer Games.

Thomas Price wrote that the eight councillors who voted in favour of proceeding with the city's  bid(Vagnini voted against)  put taxpayers at risk, as was the case with the 2013 Games held in Sherbrooke, Que.

“When the games were held in Sherbrooke their municipal taxes increased by more than 25 per cent and will remain at that level until taxpayers pay down the debts,” Price wrote. “The presenters and these eight members held Sherbrooke up as what can be accomplished with the Summer Games, but left out the 25 per cent increase in municipal taxes.”

But that's news to Lynn Blouin, the deputy CEO of the Sherbrooke Games, who said in a recent interview there was no tax increase related to the event.

"Absolutely not,” a surprised Blouin said. “I mean, come on. A 25 per cent increase for 165,000 people? Can you imagine? There was no raising of taxes whatsoever."

In fact, she said the Games were an economic success. A budget surplus of more than $2 million went into a legacy fund that continues to benefit local athletes.

"It was built into the budget at $1 million, but we managed to raise it to $2.2 million," Blouin said. "It's a fund by the city used to get young people more involved in sports. And it's also used to support elite athletes (in the community)."

In an interview Monday, Price insisted a tax increase took place, and it was 25 per cent over three years.

"From their annual reports," he said, when asked where he got the information. "If you take a look at their tax base for the years leading into the Games -- the year before the Games, and every year since the Games, you'll see that percentage increase.

"They borrowed money to pay for things during the Games, and then the interest on that monies becomes part of their interest payments and their tax base. So when you take a look at those things, and you see your tax base jumps for the two years when the Games are there, and stays there, and they did no other major projects, you have to attribute it to something."

According to news releases from Sherbrooke, however, property tax increases in the community in recent years have looked like this: 2011: 2.8 per cent; 2012: 3.29 per cent; 2013: 1.19 per cent; 2014: 3.3 per cent; 2015: 2.2 per cent; 2016: 4.77 per cent; and, 2017: 1.44 per cent.

For her part, Blouin said the legacy of the Games and the pride residents took in hosting it is what she remembers most. The university ended up with a new sports stadium, other infrastructure received major upgrades, and the whole community came together,

"We had more than 30,000 people who signed in support of the bid for us to have the Games – it was very wanted by the people here,” she said. "It was the experience of a lifetime for everybody that touched it. I still see people now with the hat or the T-shirt from the Games.

"I was just telling someone at lunch today, whatever will come my way in the future, nothing will come close to the Games. I'm sure of that.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.




Darren MacDonald

About the Author: Darren MacDonald

Read more