What should have been a simple formality turned into something more controversial when the City renewed the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre's lease and extended its funding at its council meeting on Tuesday.
Councillors Dave Schumacher and Jenny Green moved to enter into a further agreement with the Centre for another five years with three five-year options, and to continue the current funding arrangement with the City.
Currently the City provides just over $700,000 per year to Mandurah Performing Arts Centre Incorporated to operate the centre, which is increased annually by CPI.
However Councillor Ahmed Zilani spoke against the recommendation, saying although he was "fully aware that the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre is a vital part of our city" he was "shocked and disappointed to see how an organisation like MPAC is reporting tremendous losses every year".
Cr Zilani called into question the organisation's $1.7million wage bill and said he was trying to understand why the organisation was "leaking so much money" but that it wouldn't be easy to do as the City was "withholding and refusing" to provide the necessary documentation.
Mayor Rhys was quick to interject, clarifying that the City did not have access to this information as MPAC was an independent body.
"Would you walk into Coles and demand to see their wage bill?" he asked Cr Zilani.
Speaking for the motion afterwards, Mayor Williams said in his opinion the wage bill which was for more than 20 people "wasn't that high" and said that if the City was running it, it would cost "a lot more money".
"If we want a vibrant city we've gotta stump up and pay for it. We aren't the only organisation that's got skin in the game, but we're the biggest, as we should be," Mayor Williams said.
An officer was asked whether similar arts centres made a profit and it was confirmed that they didn't and were generally subsidised by councils as an amenity to residents.
