An ongoing assessment of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 parks and trail needs was among the reasons the city opted against funding the Sooke School DistrictB次元官网网址檚 turf field, according to a memorandum sent to council members by city staff.
Budget concerns and the smaller size of the field - space challenges at the site for the south Langford elementary school meant the field wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to be regulation size - were also cited as reasons that spurred the city to opt against providing $950,000 in funding for the new turf field, according to a memo sent to city council by Darren Kiedyk, chief administrative officer for the City of Langford.
That money had been included in LangfordB次元官网网址檚 2022 to 2026 financial plan B次元官网网址� passed by previous mayor and council B次元官网网址� but a number of other big-ticket items are set to be included in this yearB次元官网网址檚 updated financial plan, putting budgetary pressure on the city.
With timelines on those items tight, like extra funding to the YMCA and money towards the design phase of the new West Shore RCMP detachment, B次元官网网址渢here is a need to prioritize all city projects to address the most pressing city priorities while keeping taxes as low as possible,B次元官网网址� wrote Kiedyk.
READ MORE: Langford residents face higher taxes as council eyes additional spending
Preliminary findings from the parks and trail needs assessment estimated the recently built turf fields at Centre Mountain Lellum and the north Langford schools, in addition to the cityB次元官网网址檚 existing fields, would serve the communityB次元官网网址檚 needs until 2031, based on estimates for population growth, wrote Kiedyk.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 been lots of chatter floating around on social media regarding SD62B次元官网网址檚 request for the City to fund an artificial turf field at South Langford Elementary school.
B次元官网网址� Colby Harder (@colby_harder)
While an official City letter will be available tomorrow, in the meantime I can offer some insight: 1/9
B次元官网网址淥verall, IB次元官网网址檓 grateful for the ~$3 million invested to date by the City as I believe in the value that all-weather fields bring to our community & our youth. Even if we canB次元官网网址檛 always say yes B次元官网网址� I remain eager to support opportunities for collaboration with SD62 in the future,B次元官网网址� Coun. Colby Harder wrote on Twitter.
While Langford is still in the midst of its budget process, SD62 board trustees voted to go ahead with the grass field design in a meeting on Tuesday (March 14), as the project needed to go to tender on Wednesday (March 15) in order to not impact the scheduled opening, according to SD62 board chair Ravi Parmar.
Provincial funding for the school, announced in June 2022, covers the costs for a grass field but not a turf field. The yet-unnamed south Langford elementary school is estimated to open in fall 2025 with room for 480 students. A grass field costs around $600,000, whereas a turf field with lights can cost between $1 million to $1.5 million depending on the size, according to Parmar.
Langford has partnered with SD62 on two turf fields which have opened this year. The city paid $1.15 million towards the construction of the turf field and installation of lights around the field at Centre Mountain. It also fronted the $650,000 cost of a field at the north Langford site, which SD62 is set to pay back when the school gets provincial funding.
READ MORE: Plans for new Langford school turf field up in the air after deadline missed
bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com
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