Be patient — Innisfil will eventually reveal exactly how much it has spent on its Fair Growth advertising campaign.
That’s the message Mayor Brian Jackson has for the town’s taxpayers.
“People need to be patient on this,” Jackson told The Journal Tuesday. “We have to be open and reasonable, we’re not going to hide it from anyone. It’s not top secret.”
But Jackson said now isn’t the time to reveal the cost of the ambitious lobbying effort that included radio and television ads, lawn signs, cars stickers, a website and posters.
That’s because the Fair Growth campaign is simply on hiatus.
More public lobbying — and money — may be needed as Innisfil negotiates the details of Barrie’s annexation of 2,300 hectares along the town’s northern border.
“We don’t have the total numbers yet. All the invoices haven’t come in,” he said. “Various contracts are at various stages.”
While Jackson couldn’t reveal the cost, he said the funds are being drawn from a $150,000 contingency fund that was set up using gambling revenue from Georgian Downs.
“But how much of that has been spent or whether it’s exceeded that, I don’t know,” Jackson said.
Meanwhile, the The Journal has learned the City of Barrie spent $18,286.08 on advertisements to counter Innisfil’s Fair Growth campaign.
“Given the significance of council’s priority to expand the boundary and growth management, we probably would have spent some of this money to communicate with our residents. If Innisfil hadn’t run their attack ads, we might not have spent as much,” said Rebecca James-Reid, Barrie’s communications and intergovernmental affairs director.
Meanwhile, Innisfil Coun. Rod Boynton said the town is getting great value for its advertising dollar.
“In the 1980s, the town spent $2.2 million fighting Barrie’s annexation. What we are spending is minimal, but it’s been very effective,” Boynton said.
“It’s been very well received by the public. I’ve had no negative comments about it or the cost. We’re doing our best to defend the town.”
Several other councillors contacted by The Journal agreed the full cost of the Fair Growth campaign should be made public as soon as possible.
However, they all said when that occurs is up to the mayor.
“I think it should be released. Everybody has a right know, including me,” Coun. Bill Van Berkel said.
Van Berkel said council approved the Fair Growth campaign in a closed-door session last month.
“The staff came in asked if they could spend money on this campaign and we said how much and they said we’ll let you know,” he said, adding there was a limit.
— Files from Laurie Watt
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