Is this proposed project really prudent? (06/01/07)

To the editor:

(To the Jay School Board)

Having enjoyed the privilege of living in and paying Jay County taxes for more than 60 years, I can't help but wonder how easily we lose sight of the important things when we get caught up with the desire to keep up with or ahead of our neighbors.

I feel good about supporting a good and responsible education system, but I wonder how prudent they (the school board) are with the 40 percent of our local yearly tax payments which they receive. I don't know what oath the board members take, but surely education and cost management are included or implied.

Several years ago, a very large debt repayment was somehow LOST.

About four years ago, several million was wasted on East Jay Middle School design and construction, and then redesigned and reconstructed a year later.

I read a lack of reference to improving education in The Commercial Review's article "Project to proceed," With a 6-1 vote to sell $4 million in bonds over 22 years, it will cost $6 million plus an undisclosed utility, insurance and maintenance cost. They have maintained a $50 million debt the past seven years without a reduction. Debt is never good unless it is short-term, and needed quickly.

The public should know that $56 million at 5 percent interest amounts to more than $2.8 million per year. That works out to an average of about $165 per tax unit per year, plus the associated costs mentioned above.

I hope it is proven that this all-purpose climate-controlled building, twice the size of the Jay Community Center gym, is needed to improve education so that I may continue to feel good about paying my share.

My hat is off to Larry Paxson, who would like more indoor space for the students but says "I just can't support additional debt." His priorities make good fiscal sense.

Robert K. Snyder

Portland

Thanks

To the editor:

Jerry VanSkyock would be very proud to know his children and others felt a softball field should be named for him. He did work very hard to get that ball field built, but he certainly didn't do it alone. Many other guys worked equally hard to make the diamond a reality.

Thank you Kip, Kurt, Missy and Courtney, along with your families, for wanting to honor your dad.

The Portland Park Board, the friends who wrote letters to the board and Jim Jenney (Display Craft) all deserve a big thank you.

Thank you to The Commercial Review for the article and picture you printed. United Telephone (Sprint/Embarq) should also be thanked for the use of their equipment to help build the field. Hope Jerry had permission.

We had a dedication of the sign May 6 with family and friends gathering to remember good times, laugh, cry, eat hot dogs and even hit a few balls. It was a great day.

Thank you for coming and caring.

If you are driving past Memorial Park, check out the new sign.

From the bottom of my heart, my thanks to all of you.

Cindy VanSkyock

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