YMCA Necessary?
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The topic about the YMCA moving into Hunter Memorial Park has been growing, stirring up debate that embraces the newcomer while others oppose the notion at a fundamental level. According to City of Douglasville Mayor Mickey Thompson, the YMCA or a similar facility was to be built using 2002 SPLOST funds.
Months before the vote for the 2002 SPLOST referendum, a published list of projects was made available to the public in which there was no indication of a YMCA or multi-use facility. However in 2006 an audit on the County’s uses of the 2002 SPLOST that a multi-use complex was originally budgeted, yet is no longer currently budgeted due to funds being shifted to construct the aquatic center at Boundary Waters Park.
Also in 2006 was another SPLOST referendum that proposed the construction of four community recreation centers at the cost of $7 million, yet the YMCA was never mentioned then either. Consequently the referendum was dismissed by voters.
At a city town hall meeting in April of this year, information about the YMCA center surfaced when the project was to be included in the 2007 SPLOST referendum as an inter-governmental project. Councilmen at the meeting continually reiterated that the City Council had visited a YMCA in Canton and saw improvements that were made upon the community.
During the question-and-answer segment a resident from the Tributary at New Manchester asked why the YMCA was being relocated to Hunter Memorial Park when originally the center was slated for New Manchester. The City’s response was that it felt the YMCA would be more suited near Douglasville, and not create another “Boundary Waters” – referring to Boundary Waters Park as being isolated from most residents of the county, thereby catering more to South Fulton.
In last week’s Douglas Neighbor newspaper, an article focused on the YMCA proclaimed that the “YMCA hired a research firm to study the market for a facility at New Manchester in southeast Douglasville in 2005” and “the study indicated there were 3,900 families with a great deal of interest in joining the YMCA.”
As for the relocation to Douglasville, Mayor Thompson explained that “western part of the metro area is the only segment that does not have a YMCA.” There are no YMCA centers located in Douglas County and the closest center is the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA in southwest Atlanta. And referencing back to the city town hall meeting, the City Council had already decided to have the YMCA near Douglasville, never mentioning that a study was done in 2005 by the YMCA supporting the New Manchester location.
Both the City of Douglasville and Douglas County governments are supporting the establishment of the YMCA by splitting funds with the 2007 SPLOST – Douglasville has committed $6.7 million, Douglas County will add $6 million, and the remaining funds will come from the 2002 SPLOST that was to renovate Hunter Memorial Park.
What?! Wait a second, so Hunter Park is not going to be renovated?
Well Hunter Park has been renovated according to the City Council, with money spent on renovating the pool and some ballfields, while other funds went into a plan to reconfigure the park. Approximately $613,000 has been spent on the park, while remaining are $3.9 million with an additional $1.4 million in interest, amounting to $5.3 million.
When I spoke to Parks and Recreations Director Tracie Ivey earlier this year, she felt that Hunter Memorial Park was behind any other park in the county and in dire need of renovation. Also a new master plan of the park was in the office displaying the relocation of the administration building, which would be much larger and more centrally located.
The master plan did not include a YMCA nor can the YMCA center be built within the park’s current configuration without removing ballfields based on the responses made at the city town hall meeting. If the 2007 SPLOST is not approved by the public, will Hunter Park then undergo the renovation it was granted in 2002?
An estimated $16.7 is for construction, then membership rates of $78 per family and $52 per individual. Staffing and operational costs will be dealt with by the YMCA, including paying sales tax on products purchased and employee taxes. The YMCA does not pay federal, state, county, and city taxes due to its charity status. Taxpayer money does go toward the upkeep of Hunter Park, where the YMCA is planned to be located.
No matter how one looks at the situation, the placement of a YMCA in Douglas County and the West Georgia Region will have a great impact on the communities in the area. But is a YMCA necessary? Place a vote in the poll at the top of the article and feel free to leave a comment.
Find more about the 2007 SPLOST and the comparisons to 2006 SPLOST Referendum.
All I have to say is about time, and yes, we need one. And icing on the cake if it means a renovation of Hunter Park, which needs it badly. I’m hoping they build a Ball complex at Hunter like the one at Boundry Waters. Even with all the negative press that place gets, that’s one good looking complex, and DYB has a proud place.
July 24th, 2007 at 5:42 pm@ Anonymous
According to plans that I was able to preview, the newest city park will have four ballfields.
July 24th, 2007 at 6:59 pmWe need a YMCA? Why? Are there no for profit companies that provide the same services as the YMCA in Douglas County or is that the membership fee is lower than the private sector? Who is going to collect and keep the membership fees? Douglasville? Douglas County? The YMCA? Why would any government believe a interested company’s, profit or non-profit, study? Is 3900 interested people joining a club is the bench mark to spend money on building something for a non-profit company to compete with for profit companies? What about families that can’t afford the $78 or the individual that can’t afford the $52 fee? Are we going to pass another tax so the 3900 people can join for free? What about the other approximate 100,000 citizens? Place it in the city limits why? Does Douglasville now make all the decisions?
Douglas County residents better wake up fast or we will be working to pay for special interest groups play areas! Oh I forgot we are going to if the SPLOSH passes, a YMCA, a horse/dog park and a performing arts center! What’s next?
July 24th, 2007 at 10:58 pmThe YMCA in Douglasville is a joke. Children are left there during the summer as a free babysitting service. Who would not love to pay $52.oo for the summer?
Hunter Park will be falling by the wayside if the city council has it’s way. The new proposal is for 137 acres off Bright Star Rd. to be purchased for multiple ballparks for the city of Douglasville. THIS IS COUNTY PROPERTY, NOT CITY.
The entry would go right straight through a current established subdivion. What are they thinking?
How can they do this? These people were not even notified.
There were many of the people at the Monday city council meeting, but nothing is mentioned on the minutes of the meeting. They were told the city does not legally have to notify them.
I’m seriously considering selling and leaving Douglas County after 42 years of living here. I just don’t like it anymore. There is no integrity left.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:08 pmYMCA is good for the community. Hunter Park is a great location because it is centrally located and it could expand the efforts of the boys and girls club.
I “hear” the “babysitting” service comment. Have you thought about what happens when there is no babysitting service? Yup -unsupervised kids left to their own devices.
You don’t want gangs, you don’t want crime, AND you don’t want to invest in programs that counteract these influences. Guess what? Gangs and crime are here or well on their way and not wanting them doesn’t make them go away.
The YMCA could be a positive influence in our community - a safe place for kids to go make friends, play sports and learn about community.
Plus, it could be a place for Christian youth groups to gather and interact. While most churches have youth ministries, not all have effective, thriving ones. And not all churches can build “family life centers” for their members. Think of the positive influence of quarterly gatherings of ALL the youth groups in Douglas County, seeing them all together would be awesome.
The YMCA’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
How can this be a bad thing? As a tax payer, I would like to give everyone in our community the opportunity to build a healthy mind, body & spirit and see Christian principles in action. Can any of us say that we don’t need a healthier mind, body or spirit?
We have lots of parks and recreation facilities, and their sports teams frequently do not embody Christian or for that matter positive attitudes. And they are insanely expensive I speak from personal experience on that too. (cheerleading)
Yes, I think this is a good investment in our future. Let’s be proactive and add a positive influence to our our community - especially for our youth. And it isn’t like this is some off-the-wall never-been-tried-before idea - It is the YMCA. They have been doing this for years with excellence.
July 25th, 2007 at 3:39 pmJamie, a few questions:
Hunter Park is centrally located to what? Certainly not the central of Douglas County.
Are the taxpayers now responsible to pay for a baby sitting service for all families in the county that want it or don’t want to pay for it?
Did you know according to the county commission minutes in 1995 they knew gangs were recruiting middle school kids? Why was there no action back than?
Should the taxpayers build meeting rooms for quartly meeting? If so can my company use it too at the same cost to the churches youth groups?
Since as a taxpayer you want to give everyone the opportunity to build a healthy mind, body and spirit and see Christian principles in action how are you going to pay for it? Don’t churches provide some of this? Doesn’t the private section provide some of this? Or should the taxpayers pay for everything in your world?
If you think cheer leading is expensive try a 16 boy playing baseball for $1500/ season plus expenses and may never play in a single inning.
Did you know county commissioners don’t know who is going to pay for the up keep of the building?
This is just another case of a special interest group wanting the taxpayers to pay for something they can’t afford in the private sector.
July 25th, 2007 at 6:26 pmOk, I would like to answer to answer anonymous from July 25th:
ANONYMOUS SAID: Hunter Park is centrally located to what? Certainly not the central of Douglas County
Ok, easy to get to, close to Hwy 5, Bankhead Highway and I20.
ANONYMOUS SAID: Did you know according to the county commission minutes in 1995 they knew gangs were recruiting middle school kids? Why was there no action back than?
I don’t know why, but it is certainly about time something is done.
ANONYMOUS SAID: Should the taxpayers build meeting rooms for quartly meeting? If so can my company use it too at the same cost to the churches youth groups?
I don’t know the YMCA’s policy but I don’t know why not. Most community centers have rooms available to anyone.
ANONYMOUS SAID: Since as a taxpayer you want to give everyone the opportunity to build a healthy mind, body and spirit and see Christian principles in action how are you going to pay for it? Don’t churches provide some of this? Doesn’t the private section provide some of this? Or should the taxpayers pay for everything in your world?
The private sector does do some of this. There are many non profits in the area trying to help the community. This would work in conjunction with those groups. I think we all know some really fine people in the community that refuse to “do church” for whatever reason.
No, taxpayers shouldn’t pay for everything in my world - I paid for a golf course and all kinds of road work for a golf course entrance in Douglas County - how much of a difference has that made in our community? All it did was add a useless red light on Rose Ave- how much did we pay for that? And I like Boundaries, but the price was STEEP for what we got. Have you checked out the Cobb swim center off Six Flags Dr? It is a beautiful place for families to go, not just divers and lap swimmers.
What about the parks & recs programs? As a tax payer I pay for this, and what do we get in return? Cheerleading was OVER 1000.00 for a 5 year old! And the coach modeled behavior that was unacceptable for adults, let alone children. If our parks and recs could do what the YMCA does that would be great - but they don’t, and I wouldn’t hold my breath to see if parks and recs will ever change their sports programs to model good citizenship and sportsmanship for participants or to make sports participation available for a REASONABLE amount of $.
ANONYMOUS SAID: This is just another case of a special interest group wanting the taxpayers to pay for something they can’t afford in the private sector.
If that is what you think, fine. But you are kidding yourself if you think we aren’t already up to our eyeballs funding the whims our leaders with taxpayer dollars. I can and do pay for my daughter to participate in local special interest areas, like gymnastics, horseback riding and such in the private sector. We belong to a local gym, too.
I clearly remember growing up in a place this size, but not this affluent. Every Saturday morning at a local high school, we had Super Saturday. Elementary and Middle school aged kids could participate in classes like cake decorating, art, dance, aerobics, music – for $2.00 per Saturday per class (the classes were offered in 6 week blocks, so classes offered could change every 6 weeks) It was fun. It was positive. And it gave my parents a “break” from us kids (4) to go grocery shopping and do errands. I think it is a shame something like this doesn’t already exist here.
Perhaps it isn’t already here because there are too many groups (non-profits, churches) that don’t work together to accomplish something big. Each church or group builds there own facility to use for there own events – instead of pooling their resources to accomplish something together…
The YMCA makes sense. It is pro-community and diverse for everyone, not one particular group like just golfers, swimmers, baseball/football players, horse riders or dog walkers. AS “special interest” groups go, this one is better than the others - it offers more that just a “service” it is intentional in creating a positive influence in the community.
July 27th, 2007 at 10:07 amJamie,
Let me understand something. In your world projects must meet certain conditions. First, if the project must be easy to get to. How about Highway 92 and Highway 5 intersection? Easy to get to. Second, if the non-profit organization’s policy agrees to it a private section company can use the facility even when the taxpayers pay for it. Would the private sector company pay the same rent as the YMCA? Third, I assume from your statement (reply) it doesn’t matter that the private sector provides the services. A non-profit organization can do it better.
If these conditions are met you all all for it. Hmmmmmmm.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but the churches minister to a persons spiritality and the private sector can do the rest!
As a taxpayer you pay a special tax for the parks and rec assocation dues? I know personally about all the old parks in the county except Hunter Park. Taxpayer money does not support/fund the sports programs. Taxpayer money does pay for the maintenance of the park. If this coach modeled behavior that was not suitable for an adult and you let your child stay you are the one who needs to get more involved. Report the issues the the governing board.
You continue on giving the impression playing sports is a right given by the constitution or God. It’s not, it’s a privilege. Than you get down to what you are all about. Make taxpayers pay for your childs privlege to play a sport at a lower cost to you.
The curches can work together if they wanted to, but i doubt they ever will.
Now a question for you:
July 27th, 2007 at 6:52 pmIf all 3900 people that showed interest in joining paid their dues and nothing more how long could the YMCA stay open each day and how long until they pulled out? Remember the employees must be paid by the YMCA, unless you want the taxpayers to pay them too.
Why is it that so many people in this county, whether living in Villa Rica or Lithia Springs, think that if something isn’t conveniently accessible relative to their house then it is not “centrally located”?
Douglas County’s population isn’t concentrated in a single area - there are several areas in the county that are fairly dense relative to others. And there are many more places in the county that are booming and will serve as home to thousands more within the next few years.
As far as the issue of Hunter Park - look at a map. It would be hard to find a location more centrally located in Douglas County than that area.
As for the YMCA, IMO it would be an overall positive addition to the community but it will only be what the community makes it. By that I DO NOT mean the community’s tax dollars - I mean individuals’ membership and participation. If most people only use it as a babysitting service or as a replacement for other social services then that is all it will be.
I know some of the Y’s in the Greater Metro Area have a very strong membership base and are nice places for everyone in the community to be. I also know from firsthand experience that if a community organization hands out more to citizens in time, money and services than citizens put into in it then there is an imbalance of interest in the well-being of the organization that will ultimately leave it struggling to provide quality facilities and programs and retain citizens’ positive involvement.
I personally would be in favor of the Y if it could be built with little or no handouts from the city or county.
July 28th, 2007 at 9:35 amI did an information request concerning the YMCA. The city was only able to provide one email from someone who supported the YMCA. That person was looking for a job once it was build. I have spoken to the D’ville, Parks and Rec. and they do not support the YMCA. Gold’s Gym said a YMCA will undermined their businesses. This is nothing more than CORPORATE WELFARE!
DC does not need another money pit like the aquatic center. We are lossing over $500,000 a yr there.
On SPLOST you can’t pick and choose the projects you like. It’s a YES or NO vote.
I will vote NO! Keeping DC sale tax at 6% will grow our economy and generate ever more tax revenue.
This is one tax you can say NO to!
JB
July 28th, 2007 at 9:59 amBy very definition a ymCa is for Christians. Why should tax money - also paid in by non-Christians - fund this? If you want something similar, but secular then fine but essentially funding a religion-promoting organization is totally inappropriate.
How would you feel about your money funding a YMIA (where the I is for Islamic) - or a YMRIAFTA (RIAFT = Religion is all Fairy Tales)?
July 28th, 2007 at 10:22 amTMW, you can look at any map in the world for Douglas County and never will see that Hunter Park is centrally located in Douglas County. It is not even centrally located to the majority of Douglas County’s population. You need a better argument than that.
You are correct it will only be what the community puts into it. But, should less than 1% of the population make the decision to have it put on the SPLOSH? It you believe that our county is in bigger trouble than I thought. If it is built, it will be used as a babysitter service, it will undermine existing services, it will be a drain on the county’s budget, it will finally close due to non-support and finally the citizens who want it so bad will get to pay for a vacant useless building.
If you look at the successful Y’s in metro Atlanta where are they? They are where the money is. I bet they also get corporate sponsors too. What services will the Y provide that the private sector or other non-profits already provide? Low cost daycare is it, nothing else!
You would be in favor of the Y if there is little or no handouts from the government, is $14 million a little? Oh, I forgot we (the taxpayers) will maintain the building too! How much will that cost?
I like this, you request information and get very little except a city employee looking for a job. LOL. That person needs to leave now! P&R doesn’t support it because they know it will take money and services from them. The private sector doesn’t support it because they know it undermines the free enterprise system.
WOW, losing $500,000 per year! I wonder when the next tax kike will come to cover that special interest bill? Don’t forget we have the horse/dog park coming soon.
July 28th, 2007 at 12:48 pmI am hoping that if a YMCA is put here, that it will be more like the one in East Cobb. It is huge and friends of mine that attend, absolutely love it. My only thought is that if it is put near the boys & girls club it will only attract people who already use that facility and I would like something that honestly I can send my kids too. Knowing the purpose behind the B&G and seeing who attends, I don’t feel that ALL kids are welcomed and my daughter would be in the minority.
July 29th, 2007 at 7:31 pmSo many too respond too, so little coffee.
First, not all non-profits are churches. There are many non profit groups that are service organizations.
From the YMCA website: YMCA stands for Young Men’s Christian Association, but don’t misinterpret this to mean that YMCAs are only for “young, Christian men.” From its start more than 150 years ago, when George Williams founded the YMCA as a substitute Bible study and prayer for life on the streets, the YMCA was unusual because it crossed the rigid lines that separated all the different churches and social classes in England in those days. This openness was a trait that would lead YMCAs to recognize their strength is in the people they bring together — Ys are for all people of all faiths, races, ages, abilities and incomes. YMCAs’ financial assistance policies ensure that no one is turned away for reasons of inability to pay.
The Y is not going to interfere with the church taking care of “spirituality”. That is not what they do.
The private sector doesn’t take care of the rest. Most private sector businesses barely take care of there customers.
Gold’s (I am member) does not offer what I am looking for from the YMCA. If you have children, Gold’s will babysit them, for extra money but if they are under 12, they can’t use anything but the pool. I want to be able to participate in group activities with my children, exercise, arts, leadership just learning something new - we just don’t have enough time together as it is!
Do you know what the Y offers? From the YMCA website:
Because Ys are driven by the communities they serve, each YMCA is different. Child care, teen leadership, and sports clubs for older adults may be offered in your community, while another town’s YMCA provides swim lessons, Adventure Guides, and afterschool programming in local schools. Every Y makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate.
People are a part of their Y for any number of reasons. You may come for the workout, play in a basketball league, or bring your children to arts and music classes, but you’re part of something much larger.
There is no place like this in our community. And since taxpayer money supports maintenance at parks and recs - why not maintenance at a community center?
In response to: If this coach modeled behavior that was not suitable for an adult and you let your child stay you are the one who needs to get more involved. Report the issues the the governing board.
I did report this. Nothing - absolutely - Nothing was done. I complained to everyone, obviously, I am not shy about sharing my opinion. And I took my child off the team, crushing her spirits and losing $500.00 . But, it was a small price to pay to keep her from the negative influence that was “cheerleading” with parks & rec in Douglas County. We weren’t the only ones to leave the team, either. And I think the parents that stayed are the ones that need to be more involved, or atleast no be surprised when their kids start modeling the behavior the coach sets as a standard.
And I know in the tax payer bill of rights - playing sports is not a privilege. What is in the tax payer bill of rights?
As a tax payer, I pay for maintenance, and I am sure some employees, on parks that offer programs that aren’t for everyone. Whether it is the price, or the way the program is run, because in my situation it isn’t the price, it is the way parks & rec operate their sports program.
And, as a taxpayer - I pay for other sporting venues - like the golf course and the aquatic center, that again, are no benefit to me.
Are you going to complain about the senior center? Tax payers paid for that. Is there a private sector senior center that they should be at instead of one provided for them by tax payers? I am glad to have participated in offering a cool place for our seniors - I guess you probably thing we are offering a “babysitting” service for them, too.
As a tax payer, and a citizen of this county, I want to work to make this a great community, leave things better than when I came and be a positive influence on those around me while I am here. I want to support projects that do the same, not just make things look better, but actually make this a better place.
As for splost - I love the idea of charging the extra 1% sales tax on those who shop here - then not just property owners bear the tax burden - but until the money collected can be MANAGED and used effectively by our leaders, how can we support it? The last splost was a disaster - our leaders need to be held accountable, and sadly- with holding money from them is the only way they really seem to hear.
The Y is more than just sports! It works to make us better people. And the Y can run it’s programs - it is an institution that has been around for years.
Losing Georgia is dedicated to documenting the things Douglas County is losing, piece by piece, bit by bit - to the private sector and “status quo” government. Isn’t it time to dig in and make a change? Let’s make this a better place to live by encouraging people to be better, informing, educating and equipping them to be better citizens. Not just better golfers.
July 30th, 2007 at 10:15 amJamie, first I never said the only non-profits are churches. You are right there are many others. I do appreciate the brief history of the Y. You will find it hard pressed to name one thing the private sector or other non-profits already here doesn’t provide that the Y provides. Is Gold’s the only place you and your children can do group activities? I think not. Is the Y the only place to done any of the things you mentioned? I think not. Everything you mentioned is either already provided by either the private sector, other non-profits or handed out by the county, city governments or the school system. Why do we need another hand out program?
You are right there is no place like the Y under one roof. They are under many roofs profits and non-profits.
Yes, we do pay for the maintenance of our parks, but should we build a $17 million building for a non-profit to operate and us having to flip the bill forever?
You next state there are things you pay for but can’t use. Why? You can’t swim at the aquatic center?
Yes, I do complain about the senior center. If it is used as day care center for the elderly it needs to shut down yesterday! Somewhere along the way people have gotten the idea the taxpayers need to provide everything they want for recreation or can’t afford.
You claim to want to leave this world a better place than when you arrived. How? Spending other people’s money to get recreation facilities? So, you and your family can spend more time together doing things at other people’s expense? Leaving your children with a heavy tax burden?
Than you support the idea of everyone paying the additional 1% tax than turn around and ask how you can support a tax increase where the money is mismanaged. Make up your mind. You are correct the purse strings need to be tied until the government learn how to manage money …. taxpayer money!
I’m sure the Y is a great organization and can run it’s programs. Should taxpayers fund it? NO! Building the building is funding it.
Yes, we are losing Douglas County, Georgia, the US and our personal freedoms by giving in to special interest groups, local, state and national governments hunger for our hard earned money. Yes, we need to dig in and make a change. VOTE NO FOR THE SPLOSH AND TAKE BACK CONTROL OF THE ENDLESS SPENDING!
July 31st, 2007 at 12:00 amThe botton line on SPLOST… “you can build these projects with SPLOST dollars but we must maintain them with general funds” Tom Worthan 08/06
Tom raised our property taxes 12.4% above roll back rate. Because of hiring 35 new employees to staff these projects.
This mean your property taxes will escalate in order to pay for O/M cost. The aquatic center went from $3 million project to over $8 million with over runs. Again, we are losing over one half million each year on this project.
How much will it cost to O/M a YMCA, senior center, horse park, dog park, new prison?
Two wrongs don’t make a right…I don’t want to pay for swimming pools and dog parks or senior centers. My tax dollars should not be used to entertain you or your family.
We have roads in DC that have not been paved in 25 yrs and many gravel roads. Where did the money go to pave these?
It should be noted that not all YMCAs were paid for by taxpayers. Once upon a time they actually used private funding. I have no issues with that. In fact it is illegal to give non-profits or for-profits gifts from tax dollars. The only way the YMCA scheme will work is to lease it to them and we pay 75% of cost.
Please call Gold’s Gym and ask Gordon or Scott why they oppose the YMCA. You will understand what is at stake here.
JB
Before you consider your wants you should consider the cost to others. JB
July 31st, 2007 at 9:10 amMay 11, 2007
Douglas County Board of Commissioners
8700 Hospital Drive
Douglasville, GA 30134
Dear Commissioners:
It has come to our attention that a YMCA could possibly be included in the SPLOST voting in September of this year. We want to express to you our opposition to a tax exempt YMCA and our hope that you will see the wisdom in preventing this from becoming a reality. We have provided proven, detailed information within this opposition package on why a YMCA will become an unfair, tax exempt competitor and tax burden by selling subsidized fitness to adults who can pay their own way. This clearly subverts the purpose of tax exemption.
When you review this information, you will understand why we are so concerned with this taxpayer financed, tax exempt YMCA. Over the past 23 years we have become the heart and soul of the fitness life of the county. We are a private, locally owned business with fifteen local owners including some of our staff. We have played a significant role in our Douglas County business community. Our two locations:
Have an appraised fair market value of $3,580,000 for land, buildings and equipment;
Paid $47,861 property taxes in 2006;
Paid $233,729 property taxes in the last 5 years;
Paid annual business licenses of $3,000 per year; and
Had a 2006 direct payroll of over $1,200,000 plus fringes which together is 45% of our operating cost.
We have been involved in every aspect of our community, serving the Chamber, the Boys and Girls Club, and many, many events with schools and service organizations, to include:
Our Annual Douglas County Charity Tennis Tournament has raised over $120,000, with the Prevent Child Abuse Douglas and Douglas County Boys and Girls Club being significant beneficiaries over the last several years.
Since 2005, we have raised over $50,000 for the American Diabetes Association Tour De Cure Charity Event. We have increased the awareness of diabetes prevention and treatment.
If the YMCA is allowed to “operate their business” within Douglas County they will ride free on the backs of all of us who pay taxes and they will drain millions from legitimate charitable organizations competing for finite donated dollars. They will drive a tax free sword through the heart of our business and other tax paying businesses and charitable organizations in our county. We can compete with anyone if the rules are the same. That is pure American capitalism. But if a tax free YMCA is allowed to sell their services for a free ride in Douglas County, we would probably have no choice but to close down at least one of our facilities. We therefore support identical tax treatment for identical business activities.
In the first part of this notebook you will find (1) a condensed summary, “The YMCA: More like a business than a charity” and (2) a letter from the President of the International Health, Racquet, & Sportsclub Association that clearly expresses the Industry position against publicly financed, tax exempt fitness centers, such as the YMCA.
In the second part, when you are ready, you will discover detailed support information for a more in depth inspection. We believe that once you see the evidence accumulated nationwide you will agree with equitable taxes for equitable services.
We are available any time you have questions and would love to have the opportunity to discuss this further with you in the near future. Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter. In this present economic climate your decision will be pivotal for the future of our business.
Sincerely,
Gordon Johnson, General Partner
July 31st, 2007 at 5:09 pmGold’s Gym of Douglasville
Just by the amount of comments, this post has become a “hot topic” that has that love-hate thing going on. Here’s something more to ponder about:
According to official documents attained through an open information request months prior, the recreation building that is to be funded jointly and built at Hunter Memorial Park will be operated by the City of Douglasville, or can be leased. There is nothing legally stating that the YMCA will definitely move in.
If the 2007 SPLOST is approved by voters, then its a three year wait for the recreation building if all things go well. The trade-off is then Hunter Park does not become fully renovated as promised in the 2002 SPLOST at the cost of a YMCA or “substantially similar operation” via the 2007 SPLOST. Either way, the funds for the renovation of Hunter Park may be up for grabs, but that’s for a later post.
So for hypothetical purposes, what if the recreation building (or YMCA) project overruns in costs and date of completion like the Aquatic Center, the County pulls its remaining funds and Hunter Park is left with a halfway completed building? What do you do then? History tells us that funding is pulled from other projects, which in turn are not likely to be provided.
Honestly a YMCA is great for a community (although it does not appeal to me), but I think part of the problem here is the execution to bring the YMCA to the West Georgia Region using taxpayer money, some of which was subjected for another purpose.
If I had to choose where a YMCA would be located, it would probably be the master-planned Wolf Creek development in Carroll County. Since Wolf Creek is “Peachtree City meets Silicon Valley”, it would be an ideal location with its proximity to Douglasville, Carrollton, and Newnan.
That’s just my opinion…
July 31st, 2007 at 6:29 pmAndrew and all Douglas County residents,
July 31st, 2007 at 8:16 pmThat intergovernmental agreement is all fine and good, but there is one small problem. According to law if an item is placed on the advertised legal SPLOSH list (recreation building) to be funded with the funds collected and the SPLOSH passes it has to be funded! If not according to the law the local government can be sued and forced to use it, the local government can be charged with a crime. So, the county will not be able to pull out. That agreement is not worth the paper it was written on.
What I would be interested in is how they (local government) get away with diverting money around to get their pet projects completed.
They need to fund the projects and complete them before they start on the next money pit.
@Anonymous (7/31)
This is where the State law confuses me because it states that these projects have to been completed within the alloted five years of the SPLOST, however the intergovernmental mentions another law that allows excess funds that remain after SPLOST to be disposed of into the general fund.
This then likely explains how money for the Hunter Memorial Park renovation from SPLOST 2002 are being diverted to the recreation building for SPLOST 2007.
Is this right or am I missing something?
July 31st, 2007 at 10:13 pmI agree that the project needs to be completed in the time frame of the SPLOSH. Here’s where I wonder alot about the law, can the local governments pick and choose which one they want to follow? Like the Hunter Park project, has it started yet? If not, the way I read it the city is violation of the law.
I wonder if the county is breaking the law.
August 1st, 2007 at 1:09 pmThis is an ego trip for Mister Mayor MICKEY THOMPSON. He is modeling this after a YMCA in Canton where they named the building after - you guessed it - their mayor. Send this SPLOST and this mayor home when you go to the polls.
August 1st, 2007 at 4:42 pmI cannot say about Douglasville but as for the area that I live in N.W. Ga., the YMCA in their brow beating tatics has been anything but Christian. Their organization ,on the lip seems to be in line with their mission statement,((The YMCA’s mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.)) However their teeth are very sharp if the tax board or anyone else for that matter, questionsthem as to how charitable they actually are as to giving out free scolarships to those who cannot afford to pay 900 to 1,000 dollars a year to be a member and use their programs.
January 17th, 2008 at 11:20 amThe “Y” as they like to call themselves, use the media, other govt. branches and anyone they can find to harass, intimidate and otherwise brow beat anyone who questions their demand to have property tax exempt status. Every time a property is given exempt status, the folks that do pay property tax have to pay a portion of the tax that an institution does not have to pay. We Americans have to pay too high of property tax any way without having to pay for an institution who though they may have a 5013C status may not qualify for property tax exemption. To be considered as an exempt institution, this institution must prove that they are substantialy charitable in nature; to do that an institution should allow the tax assessor office to view their records of income and what is done with the income, so far the YMCA has declined to allow anyone to view their books, their budget or any means as to how they achieve their income.
Yes, we need a YMCA. I have a teenager. Positive activities for the teens of Douglas County just don’t exist. You wonder why there are problems with gangs and trouble at Arbor Place Mall. There is a great need to provide the teens of Douglas County something better to do than cruizing and hanging out in abandoned shopping center parking lots. Are the youth of Douglas County not worth investing in?
March 17th, 2008 at 1:29 pm