Letter To The Editor: Now The Decision Makers Want

Editors Note: The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily the views or opinions of Oskaloosa News.

Now the (decision makers) want to build a $24,000,000 new “YMCA” rec center & swimming pool along with a early child hood center. You may not know it, but the city (that’s you & me) gave the YMCA approximately $165,000 to keep the doors open at their present facilities on North 3rd Street. Now tell me how in the world do they think they will be able to make this very expensive complex cash flow & be self sufficient ?? My opinion is that it can’t possibly do that….. the city who will own this facility will have to come back to us thru higher property taxes to keep it in operation ! UGH !!! Why does the city of Oskaloosa need to own the new facility now ? Oh by the way they now say it’s NOT going to be called the YMCA…. What about the existing preschools, and the individual day care & educational jobs they will destroy? Then are they going to lease or have to a management team run it? Is that a city function and who will be paying for that? In central Iowa there have been several YMCA’s close recently. There is just way to many unanswered questions !!!! We need NEW ballot language that will put most of the sales tax money towards the roads in the city & the county…..20% towards the Environmental Learning Center…REMEMBER WE ALL HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE…… THE ONLY CHANGE WE WILL GET IS HIGHER TAXES ! ! ! ! Vote “NO” For the 1 CENT SALES TAX (16.6% increase in that tax) MAY 3rd………..

Pat Humphrey
715 “B” Avenue East, Oskaloosa, Iowa