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- By Brad Lawrence
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Fernley Pool
October 1, 2005
THE MONEY PIT
Like the movie, the Fernley Pool would be almost funny if it weren't for the completely idiotic way the Fernley Pool has been run in the past, and of course, we, the tax payers, are once again being asked to foot the bill.
In the Leader Courier of Sept. 29, 2005, it's reported that they are now going to ask for another $750,000 in a loan form, which means of course that the residents, who for the most part who don't even use the pool, will once again be told to repay.
According to Bill Clegg, pool board member, “You may think it’s a lot of money ($750,000), but it costs a lot of money to run a pool. We’re trying to correct the problems. There was no maintenance for a long period of time; $750,000 barely covers the minimum things that need to be done.”
So where did the money go for the previous 10/12 years go which were slated for repairs? You mean, elected officials actually SQUANDERED the money we had to pay? And they have the temerity to want MORE?
The mystery deepens... the money disappears, and we sit around like a bunch of boobs wondering where the hell our property taxes are going and WHY they keep going up?
At the meeting Marty Johnson, of Johnson consulting, who I'm sure donated his time and work, ahem, stated that it would be wise to seek a Medium Term General Obligation loan, which means it has to be paid back by the tax-payers, who are the "general obligation" part of that sentence, of which the payback would last for 10 years (again, and probably renewable, because the taxpaying boobs of this fair city will forget by then), at the rate of $100,000 per annum's. As the pool is ALREADY getting $800,000 in our tax money free and clear due to the construction bond being paid off 2 years ago, the board was asked why they wanted more.
And I refer you back to what Bill Clegg answered above, "it takes a lot of money to run a pool".
No accounting for the money at the meeting, just 'it takes a lot of money'.
I'm reminded of the revolutionary war patriots, who fought King George and all of England for a similar type situation, being taxed with impunity and not giving any reason why (when actually it was because HE had amassed huge debts). First the Stamp Act (comparable to the 1st bond for the pool) Then the Townshend Act (this blatant theft of our money for a losing proposition). The patriots were understandably upset, leading ultimately to the revolutionary war.
I wondered about a couple of things. One, if I had a pool would it cost, say, ONE AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS to run? The answer is obvious.
And the other thing I wondered about- Do we, the citizens of Fernley, have the guts to send a resounding NO to this loan like the Boston citizens of yore during the Tea Party, or will we meekly accept this 50-75 dollar a year increase in our property tax and while those elected officials who succeeded in once again ripping us off throw a party themselves?
September 2, 2005
Oh boy, here we go again. NOW the Fernley Pool needs money because the pumps, filters, electrical system and who knows what else have gone to seed after years of neglect.
And they want us, the kindly, generous, ignorant rubes who inhabit this land of plenty to once again bail them out so that they won't be fined for unsanitary conditions and other violations of the health code.
And what, we ask innocently, is the price tag on this repair which can only come from years of poor to non-existent maintenance?
Why a paltry $700,000 plus is the reply.
Yes, nearly three quarters of a million dollars to repair and or replace that which could have easily been maintained had there been proper management and a governing board with half a brain.
But alas, we're told, it wasn't. Instead the tons of tax money which we've poured down the drain in property tax to support the Fernley Pool (and continue to do so) was instead squandered by those to whom it was entrusted , blown on lavish parties or what?
WHAT? Somebody has the temerity to ask for an accounting of our tax dollars?
YES! I think it's about time that somebody asks them where the hell all this money has gone and continues to go.
I don't think that there are chests of gold over which the Board gets to cackle maniacally during their closed door sessions, but whose to say? They won't let anyone into their meetings to monitor the proceedings in most cases, preferring to have secret closed door sessions where they presumably discuss repair and maintenance among other things. And yet here they are, wading up to their chests in an ecoli infested cesspool called a community pool asking for our help, once again.
Well, hey, I'm not just a disgruntled tax-payer who wants to make a ruckus for ruckus sake. I have a solution.
Privatization.
Yes, put the running, maintenance and operation of the pool in the hands of some entrepreneur or group who will keep it running and make a profit doing so.
They already charge an entrance fee for the pools use, despite the fact that it's tax supported, so why not?
We give the pool and property to this private organization on a dollar a year lease, we then fire the Board and lay off the workers unless they are willing to work for what the new owners will pay, and be done with it.
No more taxes (your property tax will go down by 100 dollars a year at least) and the new company can make the repairs.
I'd really like someone from the board or the city to make a rebuttal.
I dare ya.
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August 25, 2005
Your Tax Dollars at work.
Ah, Fernley. Home of new enterprises and old. New homes and old ones. New dreams and old ones. New taxes and old taxes.
I've been looking at my property tax bill for a few years, and one thing is changing however. The amount of taxes which we all pay keeps going up. And it began to irk me that the tax for the Fernley Pool was so high. This tax grows like the tumble weeds on my lot. It seems to have a life of it's own, a cancer which is higher than the tax we all pay for fire protection!
So I did a little research with the county and discovered something interesting. The tax began as a bond issue about 11 years or so ago. Back before the housing boom (which should lower taxes due to the tripling of the people paying taxes) and before the 200,000 dollar plus homes which also increases the amount of taxes.
But although the bond debt (per the county) has been paid off, MORE taxes keep going to the Fernley pool. Now I don't know about you, but if and when I pay off my mortgage, I'll have a lot of extra money each month.
The Fernley Pool, however, seems to have an unquenchable thirst for our tax dollars. Although they have no mortgage we all are not only paying the same as if there was a huge indebtedness, but each year the damn bill keeps going up!
Now either the personnel there are voting themselves huge salaries each year or they are spending it on something else. And I haven't noticed any improvements in the outside foliage so it must be on something inside. Since I have never been inside the Fernley Pool I don't know, but maybe the pool has been is made out of gold or some other precious metal. With the amount of money we pay in taxes for the pool, it had better be.
Either that or there is something rotten in the city of Fernley, and it smells vauguely like chlorine.
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