The management of the Richmond Hill City Center could soon shift into the hands of City Hall if a spending plan for the facility isn’t reached by the end of the year.
During its regular meeting Tuesday, the Richmond Hill City Council unanimously disapproved the proposed 2013 budget for the City Center after unanimously approving the city’s own proposed budget of $7.1 million.
Mayor Harold Fowler said Thursday the City Center’s budget was denied because the facility, which is managed by the Charleston, S.C.,-based Wilderman Group, has been operating at a loss since it opened two years ago.
“The original plan was within two years they would be breaking even, and they’re not anywhere near breaking even. The council felt the amount of money the city is having to pay out for them to run the City Center is excessive,” Fowler said.
“What we need to do is sit down with The Wilderman Group and see if they can come up with something council will accept, and if no terms are agreed upon, the city would likely take over (operations).”

Read more in the Dec. 8 edition of the News.