Aquatic Center Questions: Day Two

I'm worried that this project will make my taxes go up.  How much more do you expect me to pay?  

In fact, there will be minimal impact on taxpayers. If Hampton voters approve allocating 100 percent of the Local Option Sales and Service Tax (LOST) revenue to this project, a major part of it will be funded from taxes that everybody is already paying.  And it will be paid in part by people who come into Hampton from surrounding areas to shop.  Working with the volunteer Friends of the Hampton Aquatic Center, the city has devised a method to finance the Aquatic Center that makes use of private gifts and grants, public sector grants, and revenues from taxes that already are levied.  This the impact upon tax payers is minimal.

Weren't we supposed to be saving half of the LOST revenue for a new pool?  Why were those funds spent on operation of the current pool?

The 2001 ballot initiative language said that half of the LOST revenues would be used for "a pool".  Before spending any of that revenue on operation of the current pool, City leaders sought guidance from the State Auditor's office and from the City Attorney.  Both the State Auditor and the City Attorney said that spending LOST revenue on operation of the current pool is appropriate and legal. 

Ok, so just how do you plan to raise money in such a gloomy economic environment?  And wouldn't to be more responsible to wait until the economy improves?

The history of Hampton and Franklin County is dotted with examples of the public unifying to support great public projects in spite of very, very difficult economic times.  To name just a few: our courthouse, Windsor Theatre, Beed's Lake, Harriman Opera House, Memorial hall, the U.S. Post Office, a telegraph office, a railroad depot, a candy factory, and an ice cream factory all were built in Hampton during recessionary periods.  Over the years Hampton and Franklin County Residents have proven they can overcome tough times and leave wonderful legacies for the people who will follow them.  Don't we owe that same kind of dedication to those who will live here after us?