The final 2017 figures for the Tom Thomson Art Gallery are complete and the deficit sits at $532,868. Full details were reviewed by Corporate Services Committee at their March 22 meeting.

The deficit almost entirely relates to revenues, reports Kate Allen, Director of Corporate Services.

"The approved budget included revenues of $266,717 of which only $2,500 were ever received. This is the main contributing factor behind the 2017 deficit. These funds were budgeted to pay for gallery expenses which were not scaled back when receipt was not confirmed," according to her report.
A book-keeping error concerning year-end ($85,000) and gift shop revenues that did not meet budgeted targets ($17,400) were additional factors.
Some expenses were incurred in anticipation of the independent incorporation of the gallery - $10,000 for financial reporting and $30,000 for Information Technology would not have been necessary if City expertise had been used. $75,000 was spent on a website re-design for the gallery's 50th anniversary and beyond. The site is not required for the Gallery as a City department and has been taken off-line, avoiding hosting costs.
Grants received for the Betwixt and Between exhibit based on budgeted expenses that were not incurred and touring that did not happen will be returned to the funding governments involved.

Gallery staff and hours have been reduced and the deficit will be recouped over the next ten years.