Published: March 26, 2009 6:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star
A focal point for seniors’ activities and community events is feeling the financial pinch. The Schubert Centre is facing a $162,000 shortfall as a result of government policies and upgrades to its 30th Avenue facility. “We find ourselves in a financial crisis we need help recovering from,” said Ron Denton, treasurer. In an attempt to handle the situation, the non-profit society is seeking financial relief from the City of Vernon in the form of an annual exemption for water, sewer and property taxes. That amounts to about $15,000. “We need to thoughtfully look at this,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. “It’s a recreational area for seniors and the community.” A grant will now be considered by the city’s finance committee, and that’s good news for Jack Gareb, the Schubert Centre’s manager. “It’s one of the things that will help get us out of the red,” he said, adding that it’s not unusual for other communities to support similar facilities. “In Kelowna, they own the building and pay the manager’s salary.”
If the city provides assistance, the Schubert Centre is offering council free meeting space in perpetuity. Other options to handle the shortfall are also being considered, but Gareb was not willing to get into specifics at this time. Money problems arose when the provincial government changed its gaming rules and the Schubert Centre lost $65,000 a year in revenue. It then did renovations to its kitchen to try and cater more events, and it was impacted by the federal government looking for $100,000 in GST. As a result of all of this, the society had to go to a bank to borrow funds and it is now trying to pay off that debt. “It creates a cash-flow situation,” said Denton. While circumstances are currently difficult, there are no plans to close the centre’s doors. “We’re going to get it,” said Gareb of the needed funding.
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