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8� SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS THURSDAY,JANUARY 18, 1996
<br /> 5 Y
<br /> SUBURBS
<br /> 44
<br /> A •.�✓ommumty center's first
<br /> M. l
<br /> _ ' ear ending with deficit
<br /> parent who lives in an apartment
<br /> <BEN CHANCO STAFF WRITER
<br /> ,� too small to hold a meeting.
<br /> ;,_ "Now she has a place to lead a
<br /> �he finalCenter cub pack meeting," 'Benke said.
<br /> -i,fui g u r e s memberships are "That's why we call it a family
<br /> aren't in yet, available for service center."
<br /> .,'bbt prelimi- residents at But Anderson said there still is
<br /> ppry esti- $250 a year, a cost to clean the rooms and set
<br /> ;,Mates show -$350 for others. up the-coffee pots for community
<br /> --the $5.2 mil- Call 638-2130. meetings.
<br /> w lfon New "We're busier than we thought,
<br /> ,righton Family Service Center but we've also brought in less than
<br /> Ilcpuldn't cover the costs of keeping we thought," he said. "Nonprofit
<br /> =its doors open in 1995. groups come in here with no mon-
<br /> 3 Maurie Anderson, parks and ey in their hands.":
<br /> "=`r6creation director, said the city Anderson said the-'city council
<br /> •`,.could be facing a $60,000 deficit would like the building to come as
<br /> for the center, opened in Decem- close as possible to breaking even,
<br /> =i, 1994 as the New Brighton's, but it also wants to provide servic-
<br /> 61 community gathering,place. es.-
<br /> ;_';But City Manager Matt Fulton The deficit could be budgeted as
<br /> 2rwid it isn't time to panic. , a service charge. in-the future,
<br /> • =�This is our first year of opera- which is the way Shoreview han-
<br /> tion, and we're still learning," Ful- dles it, he says. The budget,for the
<br /> ton said of the center, built to Shoreview Community Center in-
<br /> serve the 22,300 residents of New cluded $180,000 of taxpayers'-
<br /> Brighton and others in neighboring 'money to allow community use of
<br /> communities. the center at no charge.
<br /> Mayor Bob Benke said the cen- Benke said it is questionable-
<br /> ter 'was,projected to lose money whether•the New Brighton center
<br /> for three years anyway. will ever break even. - '
<br /> "Like any new business, it has a, "We might not be able to, -the
<br /> few problems," 'Benke said. "But -mayor said. "But we could consid-
<br /> the building already has been a er it.like an outdoor-park. Play-
<br /> good benefit for the community." grounds don't`break even either."
<br /> Anderson,said.-the $60,000 defi- Fulton said there will be a coun-
<br /> cit, which will be covered by,mon- cil, -work- session on the center
<br /> ey from.the general fund,matches - sometime in February to discuss
<br /> almost dollar:for dollar the time options.
<br /> and services 'given. to nonprofit "We do know the building is
<br /> community groups. heavily utilized, but it's not bring-
<br /> : Groups such as the Boy Scouts, ing in a lot of money," he said.
<br /> the League of Women Voters, the "But without it, we would have
<br /> historical society, the Stockyard had to find other places to accom-
<br /> Days committee, neighborhood plish what we did for the commu-
<br /> crkne watch and seniors get free nity."
<br /> useof meeting rooms, he said. The two-story center, at Old
<br /> The school district, which con- Highway 8 and 10th Street, does
<br /> tributed $800,000 toward the not have a swimming pool like the
<br /> building, has space for early child- bi er communitycenters in
<br /> hood and family education pro- Shoreview and Mapewood.
<br /> grams.
<br /> That's why Fulton said the defi- It does have a large indoor play-
<br /> cit should not be construed as a ground, a gymnasium, a walking
<br /> deficit. and running track, an exercise
<br /> "It's really a service charge, room, meeting rooms, and a re-
<br /> Fulton said.. ception room with a dance floor
<br /> Benke said the center has been and kitchen to rent for weddings
<br /> the perfect place for the Cub Scout and other parties.
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