$32M reno bill for library, city hall

Renovating the Brandon Library/Arts Building and city hall will cost more than $32 million, council heard this week.

City administration gave council members an anticipated cost and work overview of the renovations, which could start as early as this year.

The cost to renovate the library/arts building, located next to The Town Centre, is pegged at $18,270,000, while critical components of the building would cost about $6.6 million more. Renovations for city hall would be $7,255,000.

“Significant upgrades are required to both buildings,” director of finance Troy Tripp said at Monday’s budget meeting.

The work for the library/arts building would include consultation, roof repairs and three other phases of renovation, he said. City hall also requires roof repairs and electrical and fire-suppression upgrades, among other things.

The renovation for the library/arts building would be completed in 2032 and city hall in 2031, according to the presentation.

Coun. Tyson Tame (Ward 10) described the renovation costs as a case of “sticker shock.”

Council received the presentation as information ahead of budget deliberations on Friday and Saturday.

Administration recommended council approve the city hall renovations this year and defer the library/arts building project until 2027.

Kyle Winters, the city’s director of engineering, said more investigation on weeping tiles and foundation still needs to be undertaken for the library/arts building.

The investigatons including “coring” into the roof and foundation and finding specific problems and solutions, Winters said.

Council decided to renovate the library/arts building in June 2024 after finding that building a new facility would be too expensive.

In 2024, council was told that the cost for renovation was between $15 and $18.5 million, while a new building would cost $28 million.

Director of planning and buildings Ryan Nickel said Monday that the city had “tried to hit the home run” by obtaining a large federal grant “to make this renovation go,” but the city failed to win that grant money.

“In the absence of funding from upper levels of government, we’re going to be exploring leasing options as well,” he said.

Nickel said looking at the different financial options is “the financially prudent thing to do” with large-scale capital projects.

Tripp said under the current 15-year borrowing rate, the projects would cost the city $14.6 million in added interest.

“Obviously very hopeful that we would receive some grant funding to reduce this,” Tripp said. “Securing some external funding is critical for these types of projects.”

Council also heard a presentation Monday on the cost of a new outdoor pool at either the Keystone Centre, Rideau Park or Kin Park. The new pool is being planned to replace the aging Kinsmen Centennial Pool at Rideau Park.

Tripp said the city will likely have to borrow money to finance the project, which would cost $6,061,000, according to his presentation.

The interest would cost anywhere from $789,000 on a five-year term to $4,019,000 on a 20-year term, Tripp said.

The prices are based on current debenture rates, he added.

Tripp said normally a borrowing term should at most match the length of the lifetime of the project. In 15 years, the pool would likely need a substantial refurbishment, so the term shouldn’t be longer than that, he said.

The rates also don’t consider other potential funding sources.

Mayor Jeff Fawcett said outside funding is needed for the project to happen.

“I’ve got to admit, we are not going ahead with this without some kind of provincial contribution, at a minimum, and hopefully some public (as well),” Fawcett said.

The current recommendation from administration on the pool is for design work to take place this year, with construction starting in 2027 and an opening date in 2028.

Coun. Glen Parker (Ward 9) suggested the city stop putting money into reserves in order to pay off debt faster.

“We’ve got that much more to service the debt and reduce that debt that much quicker,” he said. “And it doesn’t matter what you’re doing as long as you’re paying down the debt or saving money to save stuff.

“We’ve got the money to service the debt on a shorter amortization if we’re not stuffing as much away, burdening the taxpayer.”

Going into the weekend of budget deliberations, administration is proposing a 6.6 per cent property tax increase.

» alambert@brandonsun.com