http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100915/NEWS02/709159881
Published September 15, 2010 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield Select Board rejects tax break for rec center
By Susan Smallheer
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — On a 3-2 vote, the Springfield Select Board voted Monday night against giving the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center a tax stabilization agreement.
The board of the nonprofit recreation center had requested the tax break back in June, and the board last month had asked for additional information.
Board Chairman Kristi Morris was joined by Select Board member John Swanson in voting for the tax stabilization, which would have started next year at 70 percent of the taxes due. Voting against the tax break were Select Board members Stephanie Gibson, Michael Knoras and Terri Benton. At issue was forgiveness of about $18,000 the first year of the proposed three-year break.
Knoras said he fully supported the recreation center, but that he didn't like the “method” of how the center was asking for help from the town.
While the board voted down the proposed tax stabilization agreement, at the request of Town Manager Robert Forguites, the board agreed to have the town attorney work with Forguites and Morris to come up with proposed articles for town meeting, either asking the town voters to grant the center a tax stabilization agreement, or exempt it from local property taxes entirely.
Christian Craig, executive director of the center, said the center was one of only two similar nonprofit recreation centers in the state that is still paying property taxes. While the center is identical to YMCAs in other parts of the state, it doesn't have the automatic tax exemption that other organizations have, Craig said.
He said the Meeting Waters YMCA, based in Bellows Falls and running a day camp in Springfield, doesn't pay taxes on its camp in Springfield.
“It's a big issue for us,” Craig said, noting that the center wanted to complete its proposed other two phases, but he said that would bring its tax bill to $100,000 a year. Craig said the center was looking for a “show of support” from the town and its leaders to the center, which is struggling financially, largely because of the downturn in the economy.
“We can't afford that,” he said.
The center employs 45 people, with only four of those people full time. It has about 1,800 members, of whom 1,100 are Springfield residents.
George Lamb, the chairman of the Southern Vermont Recreation Center Foundation, the parent organization of the center, said the group needed help from the town as it got on its feet.
Lamb said the recreation center, which opened its doors about 2½ years ago and operates three pools and a fitness center, needed some sign from the board that it was behind the nonprofit center.
“I support the rec center,” Gibson said, despite her negative vote. Gibson said many of her friends are members at the center, and she had been a member in the past.
“But I cannot in good conscience put more burden on the taxpayers,” Gibson said.
The break would have amounted to about $18,000 the first year, or 70 percent of its tax bill; and about $12,000, or 50 percent the second year, and about $8,000, or one-third, the third year of the proposal, according to the motion made by Swanson and supported by Morris.
Benton said the issue was best left to a townwide vote.
“Let the voters have the final say so,” she said.
Morris said he had received a lot of calls and e-mails about the issue. “It's not black and white, it's gray,” he said. “Both sides think it's black and white.”
Springfield Select Board rejects tax break for rec center
By Susan Smallheer
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — On a 3-2 vote, the Springfield Select Board voted Monday night against giving the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center a tax stabilization agreement.
The board of the nonprofit recreation center had requested the tax break back in June, and the board last month had asked for additional information.
Board Chairman Kristi Morris was joined by Select Board member John Swanson in voting for the tax stabilization, which would have started next year at 70 percent of the taxes due. Voting against the tax break were Select Board members Stephanie Gibson, Michael Knoras and Terri Benton. At issue was forgiveness of about $18,000 the first year of the proposed three-year break.
Knoras said he fully supported the recreation center, but that he didn't like the “method” of how the center was asking for help from the town.
While the board voted down the proposed tax stabilization agreement, at the request of Town Manager Robert Forguites, the board agreed to have the town attorney work with Forguites and Morris to come up with proposed articles for town meeting, either asking the town voters to grant the center a tax stabilization agreement, or exempt it from local property taxes entirely.
Christian Craig, executive director of the center, said the center was one of only two similar nonprofit recreation centers in the state that is still paying property taxes. While the center is identical to YMCAs in other parts of the state, it doesn't have the automatic tax exemption that other organizations have, Craig said.
He said the Meeting Waters YMCA, based in Bellows Falls and running a day camp in Springfield, doesn't pay taxes on its camp in Springfield.
“It's a big issue for us,” Craig said, noting that the center wanted to complete its proposed other two phases, but he said that would bring its tax bill to $100,000 a year. Craig said the center was looking for a “show of support” from the town and its leaders to the center, which is struggling financially, largely because of the downturn in the economy.
“We can't afford that,” he said.
The center employs 45 people, with only four of those people full time. It has about 1,800 members, of whom 1,100 are Springfield residents.
George Lamb, the chairman of the Southern Vermont Recreation Center Foundation, the parent organization of the center, said the group needed help from the town as it got on its feet.
Lamb said the recreation center, which opened its doors about 2½ years ago and operates three pools and a fitness center, needed some sign from the board that it was behind the nonprofit center.
“I support the rec center,” Gibson said, despite her negative vote. Gibson said many of her friends are members at the center, and she had been a member in the past.
“But I cannot in good conscience put more burden on the taxpayers,” Gibson said.
The break would have amounted to about $18,000 the first year, or 70 percent of its tax bill; and about $12,000, or 50 percent the second year, and about $8,000, or one-third, the third year of the proposal, according to the motion made by Swanson and supported by Morris.
Benton said the issue was best left to a townwide vote.
“Let the voters have the final say so,” she said.
Morris said he had received a lot of calls and e-mails about the issue. “It's not black and white, it's gray,” he said. “Both sides think it's black and white.”
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