Mt. Pleasant calling a time-out
Town delays for a year discussion of $32M in recreational facilities
MOUNT PLEASANT — Now is not the time to hold public hearings and a referendum on whether to borrow up to $32 million to meet the projected need for more recreation programs, Town Council decided Tuesday.
The Post and Courier
Mount Pleasant Men's Recreation League basketball players use the Town Hall Gym on Tuesday. The Town Council has decided to delay consideration of new recreational facilities.
In a 6-1 vote, council postponed further consideration of the issue for a year. A town consultant and a citizens advisory committee concluded that population growth in the coming decade will require a bigger recreation program with amenities such as a 50-meter pool, three new gymnasiums and more than a dozen new ball fields. But that would mean raising taxes by $160 per year on a $400,000 home.
If the town stays on its current course, it will be debt-free in seven years, Town Administrator Mac Burdette said. "If you want the facilities, it comes down to this — your public has got to pay for it. Nobody wants to face that, but it's the truth."
Councilman Joe Bustos suggested revisiting the recreation program expansion issue in a year. "For the forseeable future, we're going to have to be on a cash basis," Bustos said. He said projects such as the revitalization of Johnnie Dodds and Coleman boulevards are more important to restoring the town's economic vitality.
Proposed recreation projects
--50-meter pool — $4.8 million
--New gymnasiums — $3.1 million
--Senior Center upgrade — $2.6 million
--Carolina Park Recreation Complex — $6.4 million
--Rifle Range Road Athletics Center — $11 million
Councilman Billy Swails said the economy has people too worried for the town to go forward with a bond issue to finance a major expansion of the Recreation Department. "I think there's too much fear out there to do something like this. We need to pay down our debt," Swails said. The estimated $22,000 cost of a referendum concerned Swails.
Councilman Gary Santos cast the dissenting vote on the issue. "I don't think we need to have a Chicken Little approach that the sky is falling," Santos said. The town should have an advisory referendum in November on whether it should borrow money to finance recreation improvements, he said.
Former Mayor Harry Hallman appointed a 16-member Recreation Master Plan Study Committee to examine the issue and make recommendations. "The quality of services and facilities will noticeably diminish in the upcoming years without the implementation of this plan. Maintaining and improving our facilities is critical," the report said. Consultant Seamon, Whitesides and Associates also wrote a report on recreation needs, which the committee used in its evaluation of the issue.
Previous story
Plan calls for $15 million, published 07/30/08
"The committee requests that a referendum be held to determine if a majority of our citizens would approve a tax increase to fund this plan," the report said.
At public workshops on the issue, 546 questionnaires about recreation needs were filled out. According to the respondents, the top need was an athletic tournament complex. About 54 percent of the respondents said they favored increasing taxes to improve recreation facilities.
Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
Santos never met a recreation project or a park he didn't like or a tax dollar he wouldn't spend...I hope the people of MP are smarter than to elect him mayor.
June 3, 2009 at 7:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
If the people in Mount Preposterous are so lacking in ability that they require the government to provide them with facilities
(sand boxes for big girls and boys) in which to play in and amuse themselves, than by all means, they can jack up "their own" taxes.
The irony of this stupidity is after the taxes are increased to pay for these non essential items, the first things to be eliminated for funding when essential items need more revenue to maintain will be those unnecessary recreational items.
Of course there's always the option of raising taxes again, and again, and again!
And the beat goes on. Whoopee!
June 3, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wjhamilton3 (anonymous) says...
The Town of Mt. Pleasant has to compete for investment, talent and jobs with communities around the world. It is not a cheap place to live full of trailers. It must deliver a high quality of life, significantly higher than a place like Ladson for instance if it is to compete.
Community recreation facilities and high quality recreational programs, along with first rate public schools, have been the major advantages the community has used to support high property values and attracting a population with higher incomes, high educational attainment and a low level of social problems and crime.
Most people in Mt. Pleasant are able to afford what a first rate community, with first rate facilities costs. If they don't want that, they can move to Awendaw or McClellenville where lower taxes are the priority.
Last night's Mt. Pleasant farmer's market was packed with peopel enjoying the new market facility which in turn increases the value of all the property along Colemaan Blvd.
The days of Massah enjoying his plantation while everyone else picked the cotton really are over. If you've been to a city like Vancouver, New York, Seattle or Chicago its more than clear that parks, recreational and civic facilities are part of the mix necessary for a modern community to compete.
The Mount Pleasant of the future will be denser and will have to recruit high paying jobs, which can't be done unless a high quality of life is available.
June 3, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigwhip (anonymous) says...
Mr. H. from your response, which was easy to read, one would take it that you are for a tax increase to expand our recreation facilities. Are you aware of the additional burden of maintaining these facilities that is footed by the tax payer? When one asks about the Rec Dept.'s budget, they don't normally ask how much money is spent in the Public Works on Rec. Dept. facilities & fields. I think council has done an excellent job over the years of supporting an outstanding rec program. Business conditions today, coupled with no growth, lends itself to elected officials tightening the towns belt and ramping up their fiduciary responsibilities. Don't forget the town paid $6 mil for $3 mil worth of dirt on Shem Creek. The election in November will no doubt throw much scrutiny on who voted to float bonds,raise taxes, or even talked about spending tax payer monies.
June 3, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
henryturner (anonymous) says...
let's be glad mt. pleasant decided not to put a huge tax burden on the back of us residents. we don't need tons of recreation just so mr. santos can get elected mayor.
June 3, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
wjh,"It is not a cheap place to live full of trailers. It must deliver a high quality of life, significantly higher than a place like Ladson for instance if it is to compete."
Most people in Mt. Pleasant are able to afford what a first rate community, with first rate facilities costs. If they don't want that, they can move to Awendaw or McClellenville where lower taxes are the priority.
======================================================
For someone who brags quite openly about their compassion for those less endowed financially there sure is more than just a smattering of arrogance, elitism and snobbishness, in those remarks.
I suppose the lower class folks that reside in Awendaw, McClellenvile and Ladson should be grateful that they even got a mention from you "Sir".
Those people that have lived in the area long before the "better" folks arrived and built their architectural abominations and drove up taxes in demand for amenities that were never necessary in the past, will just have to sell out and move to make room for a superior class of people.
Personally I wouldn't trade my beautiful home on lake Moultrie for any of the plastic clad shacks cluttering up the whole East Cooper area.
June 3, 2009 at 4:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
commonsence (anonymous) says...
wjh is certainly on his high horse today...
As a MP resident, I love the recreational amenities we have and I'm happy to pay a bit more for them. But now is not the time to raise taxes for recreation. I agree with Joe B. to put this off for a year and revisit later when the economic picture is clearer. We have bigger priorities to focus on in the near term.
June 3, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gsantos (anonymous) says...
mb300sl, apparently you once again failed to read the article before you showed your ignorance. The vote last night was not whether or not to raise taxes. It was to give the citizens an opportunity to, via a Public Hearing, tell their elected officials what they think about the recommendations of the Recreation Master Plan Committee that was appointed by Mayor Hallman. It also was an opportunity for the citizens to tell Town Council what they thought of our consultants recommendations. I voted against Mr. Bustos' motion last night because it took away the citizens opportunity to address their elected officials. The same thing happened when some council members voted to extend their terms for 14 months. Again, they didn't want to have a public hearing to allow their citizens to comment on them extending their terms. Once again mb300sl, when you decide to come from behind you're mother's skirt, like the rest of you who hide through your hatefull anonymous postings, to publicly debate this issue, I will be happy to participate.
June 3, 2009 at 10:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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