WHY are taxpayers expected to SUBSIDIZE Gannon University, a private Catholic University?

We already subsidize Gannon and other non-profits that don't pay taxes because they use services maintained by taxpayer money like police, fire, roads, etc. 

But the BLASCO LIBRARY lease that County Executive and Gannon hatched behind closed doors and that some members of council approved really adds insult to injury! Especially since taxpayers saw a big increase in their taxes for 2024. 

When County Council approved the Gannon/Blasco lease, on October 17, 2023, they could not have spent much time thinking of taxpayers and how this lease would negatively impact taxpayers and the residents of Erie County that use the Blasco Library.

The fact is Gannon is only expected to pay to Erie County as rent for the Leased Premises the base sum of $22,956.00 per year (based on a rate of $7.00 per square foot), payable in equal monthly installments of only $1,913.00. This is far below market value!

SO LET'S CONSIDER HOW MUCH TAXPAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING GANNON.

Dr. Iwanenko mentions as he always does in his public statements concerning the Project NePTWNE lease agreement that "only" 3.5% of the Blasco branch's square footage will be occupied. It's no surprise he fails to mention that they WILL NOT PAY ANY RENT UNTIL they change our public spaces to their specifications. AND...

THEY ALSO WILL NOT PAY ANYTHING FOR THE (Shared use of (i) the classroom and Idea Lab located in the Building, the Building's garage bay to transport materials and equipment in and out of the Leased Premises and store a golf cart or other small utility vehicle, and (iii) the restrooms and other common areas of the Building. (They did not specify what those OTHER common areas are in the lease.)  HOWEVER OTHER COMMON SPACES include the Hirt Auditorium, the Admiral Room, the lobby areas and of course parking outside. ALL OF THIS SPACE IS FREE TO GANNON! Shouldn't a cost be added for the use of those spaces?

If the University were paying what the county is paying for the space being rented for the Veterans Affairs Office in the Intermodal Center, just across Holland Street from Blasco, they would be paying approximately $22.00 s/f. (3,280 s/f x $22.00 = or $70,400.00/year. 

Based on just the square-footage recognized in the lease the first year would be $70,400.00. With no requirement to raise the rent, over the 25 year lease, that adds up to around $1,760,000.00 dollars. According to the amount in the lease they will only be paying $573,900.00. No wonder Gannon does not want to rescind the lease! So based on this scenario taxpayers are subsidizing $1,186,100.00. And because the lease does not raise the rent which is another ridiculous oversight, we are subsidizing Gannon University by so much more. 

You have to ask: who put together a lease where there is no protection for the public library, no thought on adequate price per s/f, no increase over 25 years? And why was it rushed through without input from the public or library experts? 

So why have some members of county council who voted for the lease said they will not rescind the lease knowing taxpayers are paying the price for such a bad deal? 

Charlie Bayle, Ellen Schauerman and Jim Winarski you were elected to protect the taxpayers and their assets, so please answer the following questions:

• Why does Gannon, a private, sectarian institution, belong in even a square millimeter of a public trust such as the Blasco Public Library? 
• Why should taxpayers be subsidizing the Gannon research lab? 
  
• Why did you agree to a lease that offers no protection to the library or the taxpayers who help fund the library?
• Why didn't you insist on public meetings before the October 17 meeting? 
• Why were you okay with the public being left out and silenced?
• Why did you not table the resolution until more information could be shared and the public could be involved?
• Why would you refuse to reconsider your vote now that new information is coming to light showing just what a bad deal this is?

Dr Iwanenko tell us

• Why do you continue to refuse to address the fact that Gannon administrators and Brenton Davis negotiated the Project NePTWNE lease out of meaningful public view?
• Why did you not insist on public meetings before the lease was voted on?

WE WANT ANSWERS and WE WANT THE LEASE RESCINDED