Missing out on facilities revenues from fall and winter sports could leave another $500,000 in red ink on Owen Sound's operating budget in 2020.
Owen Sound's Director of Corporate Services Kate Allan provided a Covid Financial Forecast update to city councilors at the June 29 meeting, saying the current anticipated operating deficit this year is $560,000.
Shortfalls in facility bookings continues to be the greatest risk for lost city revenues — with an additional $500,000 at risk depending on what the Ontario government directs with organized team sports in the fall and winter months, according to a report by Allan.
“With the planned efforts already implemented and known discretionary funding sources (reserves), there will not be a deficit requiring funding from future years or other sources not currently under the financial oversight of city council,” Allan’s report explains.
Director of Community Service Pam Coulter says none of the city's minor sports programs in the fall and winter have indicated they'll be cancelling their seasons at this point. But, whether or not they can proceed will depend entirely on when the province loosens restrictions to allow recreational team sports – with more than 10 people – resume.
The provincial government recently lifted some restrictions on indoor sports and recreational facilities to allow use to “train amateur and professional athletes, or to run certain non-contact amateur or professional athletic competitions” while meeting public health guidelines.
It remains unknown when the province will reach Stage 3 of re-opening and what exactly it will entail. The re-opening framework for the final stage includes the direction of “further relaxing the restrictions on public gatherings,” but “large public gatherings such as concerts and sporting events will continue to be restricted for the foreseeable future.”
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy says the city would love to have arenas open and sports return to indoor facilities as soon as possible, but they are dependent on the decisions made by the province and health experts.
“Certainly as mayor I'm concerned about the financial aspects of the municipality, but more important is the mental health, the activity and the recreation,” Boddy says. “All those things that people rely on us to deliver in arenas and indoor facilities.”
“That's really more important,” continues Boddy. “We'd love to have people getting back to being active and getting on with their lives.”