Debate over a new downtown library dominated day one of Saskatoon City Council budget deliberations.
Council was unanimous in its support for a new downtown facility given the long list of problems with the current building including a lack of fire exits, washrooms, water damage and asbestos.
Many on council also agree a new modern, inclusive and accessible library that meets the needs of its diverse group of users fits with their goal of downtown stimulus.
However the majority felt the library board’s request for close to 153-million dollars in 2020 was too rich. That figure included 87.5 million to be borrowed from the city.
Board Chair Lisa Erickson said their plan included indoor and outdoor green spaces, indoor play spaces for children, a gallery, public art, and an expanded local history room. She described the plan as having environmental stewardship and design leadership.
Erickson told council their plan is for a building that will last 50 years and serve a population of a half-million.
Councillor Darren Hill gave early notice he wanted to chop the borrowed portion to 67.5 million. Mairin Loewe suggested 76.3 million, Zach Jefferies proposed 63.5 million, while Troy Davies was comfortable with 35-million.
Bev Dubois thought the board should come back to council with ideas on what they could build for a series of different amounts of funding.
Mayor Charlie Clark said the library board should leave the meeting with a specific figure.
Council rejected the original amount and Loewen’s proposal of 76.3 million in borrowing before voting 6-5 in favour of Hill’s motion bringing the total capital amount for 2020 in at almost 133-million. The 2021 capital allotment for the new library is 200-thousand dollars.
Earlier council approved the police budgets of close to 110-million and close to 15-million for the next two years including the addition of eight new officers for the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood in response to the 2020 opening of the safe drug injection site.
The fire department budgets of 52.5 and 53.8 million dollars were also approved.
Budget deliberations are scheduled to continue until Wednesday.