The chair of the Downtown Business Improvement Association wants to sit down with Ontario’s premier to work out a new financial agreement between the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission and casino host cities like Windsor.
Larry Horwitz says the current arrangement cuts the DWBIA out an annual subsidy of $240,000 which the association has received for the last two decades.
Horwitz says the money was used for such things as free Wi-Fi, street upgrades, and events like Baloonapalooza. "The 100,000 dollars we spend on cleaning the streets for the day-time businesses, and gum removal, and power washing.”
However, the province has decided to sever that subsidy to individual BIA’s under its new municipality contribution agreement with the city.
Horwitz says the cut represents one-third of its operating budget and is unfair to other downtown businesses. "The premier of the province needs to take another look at what is fair and equitable. Because across the province, I think the BIAs should understand that all these agreements that are in place can be torn up at any time."
Horwitz came before Monday night’s city council meeting, not looking for funding, but support as he urges the province to reconsider the changes.
Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis says supporting the BIA would send a mixed message to the province long after the agreement was reached. "Yes this is very important to our BIA, but I can tell you other jurisdictions probably have a bigger hit than we do, just realistically, I do not see the funding formula changing."
Council voted not to support any change, but Horwitz is sure he’ll be able to convince the province to revise the agreement.
