Springville wants to increase their city tax levy by over 50% to pay for a $21 million “Taj Mahal” recreation center. Current designs for the rec center include extravagant elements such as a lazy river, water slides, dance rooms and numerous other services already provided by the private sector. Your Taxpayers Association strongly opposes the bond.
When evaluating a bond proposal, your Taxpayers Association asks four questions. When will the bond election be held? What is the need for the bond? How will the bond money be spent? And finally, what are the terms of the bond? The case of Springville’s recreation bond is no different. Springville is holding their election in November when voter turnout is the greatest. Unfortunately, there are serious questions about the “need” for this project, how the funds will be spent and the long bond length.
Your Taxpayers Association believes that government should not spend the taxpayer dollars of an entire community on the unnecessary wants of a few. Springville’s recreation center is clearly a “want” instead of a “need.” The vague design proposal currently includes a full recreation wish-list with water slides, numerous pools, fitness equipment, meeting space and party rooms. Most of these services are already provided by the private sector in the Springville community and even in the best economic times cannot be considered a “need” for the local government or residents.
An equally important question in evaluating a bond proposal is the specificity of the spending plan. When a city requests permission to increase their debt and the tax burden on citizens, it must be specific in its request. Springville’s building design and wish-list of “wants” has not been finalized, but the city is still bringing this to voters. Without complete information about the services and design of the facility, taxpayers are being asked to blindly increase their property taxes.
The final question your Taxpayers Association considers is the terms of the bond. Springville City’s proposal would increase the city property tax levy by more than 50% and increase property taxes on the average home ($169,900) by $99.50 and on the average business of the same value by $181.00. This steep tax hike is exacerbated by the 25 year bond term; an excessive term that will result in taxpayers paying nearly $5 million more in interest than a 20 year term which is typically the longest term your Taxpayers Association can consider appropriate.
Springville City is proposing an unnecessary, incomplete bond proposal to be paid over a lengthy term that will cost taxpayers millions in interest. Your Taxpayers Association strongly opposes the bond.