WECRD's finances called into question by opponent

Dear editor:

As many know, I have been researching some facts with regard to the Western Elmore County Recreation District and the proposed recreation facility.

Since 2002 citizens of Elmore County, within the WECRD district, have been taxed to build a recreation facility. To date nothing has been built and the monies received have been deposited into an account and held. There is currently over $1.1 million saved for the building of this facility. To date, from taxes/household fees alone, over $1.8 million of tax revenue has been collected (this information came directly from the "Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Net Assets" reports for years 2002-2008 which were obtained directly from the WECRD office). Interest on these earning totals an additional $60,471 (approximately).

Do you want to know how much the WECRD has given back to the community for recreation programs in the last eight years? $1,895. And a good portion of that was spent for advertising and should not even be considered donations for recreation (as stated in a letter from the WECRD office dated May 29, 2009, which states: "The Arts Council flyers and the Parks and Rec concert flyers give recognition to their sponsors. So what you may consider donations are advertising and public relations to the WECRD").

"Donations" are as follows:

4/28/04 -- $95 Concert Sponsorship; 9/21/05 --$50 to youth center for gas money for baseball trip; 10/27/06 -- $150 Scholarship; 4/16/09 -- $95 Concert Sponsorship; 10/9/07 -- $600 3 year sponsorship to MHHS for "all activities"; 9/3/05 -- $250 Sponsorship; 5/12/06 -- $95 Concert Sponsorship; 9/29/06 -- $250 Concert Sponsorship; 10/2/07 -- $250 "Community In...."; 10/25/07 -- $60 Book Program Sponsorship (through the schools).

The same letter from the WECRD, dated May 29, 2009, states the following:

"Also, in 2006 Teri Smith had received a grant from the Generation of the Child, part of which was to be used for 'community outreach.' Some of that money was used for donations to the City of Fairfield for playground equipment and to the Eastern Elmore Public Pool and for the purchase of pool passes to the Mountain Home Pool to give to disadvantaged youth in the Grand View, Bruneau and Mountain Home communities.

"The transactions were run through the WECRD bank account, but this was all using grant money, not WECRD tax monies."

The amount of the above grant was $4,825 and was called "Healthy Teens." It is interesting to note that some of this money was sent to areas outside of the WECRD taxing district.

A member of our community prepared a proposal and presented it to the WECRD on behalf of all youth activities within our community. Ms. Marsh stated she was very impressed with the proposal and realized how much time it had taken to prepare. The proposal suggested that 10 percent of the annual WECRD budget be designated for youth activities.

This was a starting point and only a suggestion. The proposal was turned down. All of this money would have gone to support non-profit youth activities which are already in place and operational.

It is interesting that the WECRD has money to give to summer concert sponsorship and book programs as opposed to programs which encourage healthy living and exercise because after all it is the goal to build a recreation center, right? I find it very sad that the WECRD has given so little back to the community for funding outdoor activity and health when this community has clearly given to the WECRD for the last eight years in the form of taxes.

I also find it interesting that the WECRD claims to be forming groups of citizens to help determine the needs of a recreation facility yet claims on their web page that the facility is designed (as of June 12, 2009). "Architect has worked with WECRD to refine an efficient design that implements suggestions by a broad range of community residents with varied ages and interests (significant hours and materials have been donated in pursuit of this facility)."

How has this facility been designed if the WECRD is forming groups to help with this?

There are some conflicts with respect to information and I am really starting to wonder how much say the community will really have with respect to this facility and how much change we will really see.

Tracy Lauric