The YMCA is a bad deal for taxpayers and for local businesses. I feel that the Monroe community has been given a “snow job” in believing that this bond is for a pool. It is not. This is a bond to build a multi-million dollar athletic club that has a pool. This is not a drop off youth center. This is an athletic club. Let me also say that I am not opposed to a pool facility nor am I opposed to having a place for our youth. I am opposed to this being promoted as such, when in fact this is a mega athletic club.
We currently have local businesses that are now providing these services to our community (i.e. Cascade Fitness Center, Valley Ralley Fitness, Flex Appeal, Curves, Petersons, Sky Valley Gymnastics, and more). These businesses and business owners live, work and spend their money in Monroe and are often contributors to many programs for the youth. They not only pay property taxes for their homes in Monroe, but also pay taxes to our government and city for their businesses as well. It is unfair to expect these businesses to subsidize a facility that would in fact take business away from them.
Because the YMCA has a tax-exempt status, and is being funded primarily by the citizens of our city, it gives the YMCA an unfair advantage to these local businesses. Also think about this, what happens if this bond passes and we are now stuck with an increase in our taxes for the next 20 years, and then the YMCA cannot get enough dues each month to maintain and operate it. Do they come back to the taxpayers again and ask for maintenance and operation money?
The YMCA also wants the most expensive real estate that this city owns and in return they do not have to pay property taxes on it. So, there is no revenue coming into the city at all. This property would be best suited for businesses – businesses that would be generating revenue to the city, providing jobs for many people.
Bottom line is our tax dollars should not be used to build health clubs; they should be used for special programs to help the needy. Kathryn Garrison wants the citizens of the city of Monroe to vote yes. Its easy for her to say this. She does not have to pay taxes to build it, because she lives in Snohomish. We cannot even get a track for our high school.
Like I said it’s an athletic club with a pool. It must have been hard for Ken Berger to express his concerns knowing that he would have people backing the Y upset with him. But I’m glad that he has spoken out and does not support the use of our tax dollars to be spent on as he called it the “Taj Mahal” with a pool. I want a pool, so lets find away to get one and not pay for what we really don’t need.
Monroe
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