Add your name to petition

Dear editor,

Since 2001 the Western Elmore Recreation District has been levying and collecting taxes for recreation in Mountain Home. The stated purpose, reiterated for many years, was to build a year-round indoor aquatic facility. Now the focus is changed to a "recreation building."

I see this project as an expensive duplication of already existing services available in Mountain Home. We have fine parks, expanded walking paths, a golf course and two quality gyms as well as an active city recreation program.

Other private activity facilities are also available to reasonable cost: lap swimming, yoga, dance, Senior exercise, etc. Child care is readily available.

According to the budgets published for the past four years, WECRD has budgeted a total of $46,500 for community involvement and programs. This represents an average of only 6.9 percent of money not excluded each year to save for "the pool." If total annual tax revenue is used to calculate, the rate for recreation programs is just 2.57 percent of annual revenues, on average.

Would you willingly donate to an organization with this performance rate?

In contrast, more has been paid to the YMCA in those four years ($330,000) than all other operating costs ($327,240).

Other than making the current rented space available for use and distributing limited support to already existing programs, very, very little has been offered as recreation in the District. Programs are minimal and passive.

With no pool, this facility appears to add nothing that is not already available in the community. We don't need a redundant building to be used by only 10 percent of the people. There appear to be many open buildings in town, but no programs generated by WECRD.

In addition, the YMCA estimates operating costs for the proposed facility will be $590,000 per year. Expected revenue is projected at $340,000, leaving an annual shortfall of $250,000. How will this be paid? Is an increased levy for WECRD anticipated?

Please sign a petition to bring this failing project to a reconsideration by voters before more money is spent uselessly and future tax increases incurred.

Registered voters who are residents of the Recreation District are eligible to be counted in the petition signatures. Some local businesses have petitions available, or contact Wendy Mastreoni for access to a petition. You will have a chance then to make your preference known at the ballot box. Respectfully submitted,

-- Laura Bellegante,

Mountain Home