Editor:
The debate goes on about the swimming pool when we have bigger issues at stake. Our security is at risk due to the steadily declining police force. Just look at the weekly paper to see the increases just in burglary alone! The school district has had to shorten the school week and reduce the number of teachers. Even the library is in need of additional support.
If we want our children to grow up in a secure environment with a good education that helps them become productive citizens we need to rethink our priorities. Knowing how to swim is not a requirement for future job placement.
I have heard all the arguments for the swim team, the school kids, and the senior citizens. We have used the pool ourselves and know the advantages. While they are all good arguments, we only have so much money to go around. If you look around you will see that the number of tax paying homeowners is constantly decreasing. Increasing the tax burden will not encourage people to come here but will in fact force some to leave.
Let’s put what money we have into security for the citizens and education for our kids. Put some effort into improving the appearance of the town and some cost incentives for businesses to come here. That will bring new homeowners to increase our tax revenues. Then we can look at some of these other projects.
Just like your personal household budget you need to look at how much you have coming in and what are the priorities. Everyone has their pet projects they would like to see advanced, but what is the priority for the community overall. Don’t spend money you don’t have and don’t go asking it from people who are already struggling with their own finances.
Do we want to save the swimming pool and lose the town or save and improve our community and revisit the swimming issue at a future time?
Don Austin
Sweet Home