Taxpayers will notice a substantial increase to their Evergreens Foundation contribution this year, as the organization attempts to recover from a major funding shortfall for the expansion of Edson’s Parkland Lodge.
Evergreens is a non-profit housing management body that provides affordable housing options to seniors in the Yellowhead region.
This year it has committed to addressing the housing shortage in Edson, where waiting lists are ever growing. The expansion of the Parkland Lodge will create 62 new supportive living units, adding to the 18 that are already there, as well as 22 new independent living units.
Last month, the provincial and federal governments joined together to announce $12.1 million in funding toward the expansion. But, according to the architect working on the project, it will cost up to $30 million to complete it, leaving the foundation with an $18 million funding gap.
“The [government] funding represents funding for 62 units at $245,000 per unit,” explained Coun. Gilbert Wall, who represents Jasper on the Evergreens board. “But our consultant was looking at costing in the neighbourhood of $280,000 [per unit].”
As well, the funding doesn’t consider the 18 existing units that need to be upgraded or the 22 independent living units that are also being constructed.
“So in the end, we’re still at the same point that we were prior to the announcement—although the announcement is welcome, we have a great difficulty moving forward with the project as it sits now, with the amount of money that’s been allotted.”
To help make up the funding shortfall, Evergreens has doubled its requisition for 2015, bringing it up to $4 million. That sum will cover its operational costs, as well as add $2 million toward the expansion project.
Membership in the foundation provides each municipality with equal voting power and divvies up funding responsibilities based on each community’s tax base. That means, of the additional $2 million requisition, Jasper is responsible for only 7.5 per cent—$152,000—while Yellowhead County, which bears the brunt of the load, is responsible for 53 per cent of the cost.
Based on Wall’s residential tax bill for 2014, the additional $152,000 requisition will equate to about a $35 increase, for a total Evergreens contribution of $70 for 2015.
But that won’t be the end of it.
“There’s $16 million yet to come,” said Wall, noting that Evergreens will continue requisitioning for those funds in the future.
“The board through motion and through conversation has absolutely committed to addressing the wait list issue in Edson.
“So we will move forward with this project independent of whether we get the amount of funding [we need].”
Jasper joined the Evergreens Foundation in the mid 90s, knowing that one day the community would receive an assisted living facility that would be jointly funded by the foundation’s participating municipalities.
In 2008, Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge opened its doors, and through the distribution of costs, Jasper paid less than $600,000 for it.
Nicole Veerman
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