July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Don't kid yourself on taxes, 2nd gym (03/31/07)
Letter to the Editor
To the editor:
I was prompted to write this by Greg Wellman's comment in The CR that he would vote to construct a second gymnasium only if it didn't raise taxes.
When I came on the (Jay School Corporation) board in 2000, one of the early things we did was increase the capital projects fund rate to try to catch up on years of neglected repairs and outdated equipment. During the next four years, we made strides toward catching up; but with the number of aging buildings under roof and all the furnishings, equipment, and heating and air conditioning in them, keeping up is an ongoing task.
The longer you delay a repair, the more expensive it becomes when you do make it.
The $500,000 that has been "saved" toward the construction of a second gym has been "saved" from this fund. That means it wasn't put toward making repairs and replacing equipment.
No one will ever convince me we couldn't have found a better place to use this money. I never voted to increase this rate to create a slush fund for someone's pet project.
I was unable to obtain the exact amount of current indebtedness the corporation has, but with the recent major work at the high school, both middle schools, and the bonding to fund the teacher retirement agreement, it has to be substantial.
I don't believe there is anything that will be paid off in the near future either. I don't believe we should add to it for something that is not a must at this time.
It seems logical to me to step back from this project for two very good reasons.
The Honeywell energy program payments end at the end of next year. (Thank heaven!) Although I don't like the philosophy of one payment has ended we must create another, this will free up, I believe, about $800,000 per year.
The second is the coming closure and sale of the armory. We can make logic of using a second gym for physical education classes, etc., but the main reason for building is to stop 6 a.m. practices.
The armory is not on campus with the high school, but it's darn close. It has a gym that would serve well as a practice facility, parking, and enough office space to move administration and close the Garfield building. It could also be opened to the community.
Is it ideal? No, but it's practical, and I'm willing to bet the price tag will be substantially under $2-4 million.
If the armory idea is proven to not be feasible, waiting until the Honeywell payment ends to do something is sensible. This "need" that the new superintendent "sees" can wait a couple of years. It's waited over 30 now.
My final comment is for Mr. Wellman. Your platitude about being for it "if it doesn't raise taxes" was good fodder for the paper, but - unless you get an unexpected windfall - you know there are only two ways to do it: Raise taxes or steal it from funds designated for something else.
Duane Starr
Rural Portland[[In-content Ad]]
I was prompted to write this by Greg Wellman's comment in The CR that he would vote to construct a second gymnasium only if it didn't raise taxes.
When I came on the (Jay School Corporation) board in 2000, one of the early things we did was increase the capital projects fund rate to try to catch up on years of neglected repairs and outdated equipment. During the next four years, we made strides toward catching up; but with the number of aging buildings under roof and all the furnishings, equipment, and heating and air conditioning in them, keeping up is an ongoing task.
The longer you delay a repair, the more expensive it becomes when you do make it.
The $500,000 that has been "saved" toward the construction of a second gym has been "saved" from this fund. That means it wasn't put toward making repairs and replacing equipment.
No one will ever convince me we couldn't have found a better place to use this money. I never voted to increase this rate to create a slush fund for someone's pet project.
I was unable to obtain the exact amount of current indebtedness the corporation has, but with the recent major work at the high school, both middle schools, and the bonding to fund the teacher retirement agreement, it has to be substantial.
I don't believe there is anything that will be paid off in the near future either. I don't believe we should add to it for something that is not a must at this time.
It seems logical to me to step back from this project for two very good reasons.
The Honeywell energy program payments end at the end of next year. (Thank heaven!) Although I don't like the philosophy of one payment has ended we must create another, this will free up, I believe, about $800,000 per year.
The second is the coming closure and sale of the armory. We can make logic of using a second gym for physical education classes, etc., but the main reason for building is to stop 6 a.m. practices.
The armory is not on campus with the high school, but it's darn close. It has a gym that would serve well as a practice facility, parking, and enough office space to move administration and close the Garfield building. It could also be opened to the community.
Is it ideal? No, but it's practical, and I'm willing to bet the price tag will be substantially under $2-4 million.
If the armory idea is proven to not be feasible, waiting until the Honeywell payment ends to do something is sensible. This "need" that the new superintendent "sees" can wait a couple of years. It's waited over 30 now.
My final comment is for Mr. Wellman. Your platitude about being for it "if it doesn't raise taxes" was good fodder for the paper, but - unless you get an unexpected windfall - you know there are only two ways to do it: Raise taxes or steal it from funds designated for something else.
Duane Starr
Rural Portland[[In-content Ad]]
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