Top 5 reasons Dissolving the WECRD Should be on the Ballot

1.  The WECRD has not met its obligation to provide recreation to this community in 15 years.  It has
collected nearly $5 million in tax dollars, made false promises numerous times regarding what could be built “debt free” for the amount they had available.  They are always “closer than ever”.

2.  The WECRD plans to build a facility with tax dollars that, they know from their Market Study, only 10% of the households surveyed plan to use.  This is a poor choice for the other 90% who get nothing out of their recreational tax dollars.

3.  Hiring the YMCA, a non-profit, to run a facility paid for with tax dollars that is in direct competition with many tax-paying local businesses is dead wrong.  No other Idaho Recreation District has formed this kind of alliance with the Y for a very good reason – it’s too costly, unfair to their businesses, and too limiting.

4.  Taxing us for 13 years and then asking us to also donate $850,000 to a Capital Campaign to begin this facility, when the project has not even been bid yet, is ludicrous.  The YMCA is a master at fund raising. They typically make up their budget shortfalls via donations so they have to know that the community will pony up more money as needed to support a local Y.  Taxes and fund raising will be endless.

5.  Our community is extremely fortunate to have an outstanding city Parks and Recreation Department that offers over 400 non-pool programs as well as over 300 pool programs annually as well as numerous non-profit sport and recreation programs.  We already have most of what we need at an affordable price.  The Y will want to offer many of these same programs in order to generate revenue they need.