A telephone study was just completed which showed an 89% support rate for the YMCA in six partner municipalities. What you need to know is:
Total population in the six municipalities: 29,400 (Source: Stats Canada)
Total phone calls made in the survey: 2,500
Total people who actually answered the phone and took part in the survey: 428
(Source: Steve Boone, YMCA)
That means 1.4% of the population was surveyed and 89% of those overwhelmingly supported a YMCA.
There has been a significant decrease in taxable assessment in Melancthon due to the Highland Companies bulldozing and burning century and heritage houses and outbuildings on 12 properties. They have permits for seven more. To date the combined assessed value on these 12 properties exceeds $2.9 million. When questioned at the October 16, 2009 meeting of Melancthon County Mayor Fawcett confirmed that any loss in taxation from these demolitions will be “shared” by all taxpayers (meaning those of us left).
If these six municipalities felt that a YMCA was needed, why don’t they pursue it themselves? The phone survey was $28,000.00. (Source: Steve Boone, YMCA) Split six ways does not seem out the realm of financial ability of any of the municipalities. If they can’t afford the $4,000 per municipality to do the study, they had better take a cold hard look at what the capital and operating costs of the YMCA itself will be, unless of course Highlands is paying.
If Highlands is in fact paying the whole shot, the next question is: if these municipalities are “partnering” and accepting this kind of cash from Highlands, to benefit their electorate in an election year (or any year for that matter) does that create a pecuniary interest in voting pertaining to Highlands at both the local and County level? One only has to look to Orangeville Council over the rail issue to see how that worked for them. Very, very costly indeed and that is just the legal fees fighting the pecuniary interest in court, both with their tax dollars at the local level AND County level. In effect, Orangeville ratepayers are paying twice (on both sides of the dog fight so to speak).
IF a YMCA is needed, then local Councils need to stand up, justify it to their ratepayers, budget for it and pay for it themselves. Kudos to the one lone Councillor who realized this early on, but who was clearly silenced, I mean outvoted by more “seasoned” politicians.
Total population in the six municipalities: 29,400 (Source: Stats Canada)
Total phone calls made in the survey: 2,500
Total people who actually answered the phone and took part in the survey: 428
(Source: Steve Boone, YMCA)
That means 1.4% of the population was surveyed and 89% of those overwhelmingly supported a YMCA.
There has been a significant decrease in taxable assessment in Melancthon due to the Highland Companies bulldozing and burning century and heritage houses and outbuildings on 12 properties. They have permits for seven more. To date the combined assessed value on these 12 properties exceeds $2.9 million. When questioned at the October 16, 2009 meeting of Melancthon County Mayor Fawcett confirmed that any loss in taxation from these demolitions will be “shared” by all taxpayers (meaning those of us left).
If these six municipalities felt that a YMCA was needed, why don’t they pursue it themselves? The phone survey was $28,000.00. (Source: Steve Boone, YMCA) Split six ways does not seem out the realm of financial ability of any of the municipalities. If they can’t afford the $4,000 per municipality to do the study, they had better take a cold hard look at what the capital and operating costs of the YMCA itself will be, unless of course Highlands is paying.
If Highlands is in fact paying the whole shot, the next question is: if these municipalities are “partnering” and accepting this kind of cash from Highlands, to benefit their electorate in an election year (or any year for that matter) does that create a pecuniary interest in voting pertaining to Highlands at both the local and County level? One only has to look to Orangeville Council over the rail issue to see how that worked for them. Very, very costly indeed and that is just the legal fees fighting the pecuniary interest in court, both with their tax dollars at the local level AND County level. In effect, Orangeville ratepayers are paying twice (on both sides of the dog fight so to speak).
IF a YMCA is needed, then local Councils need to stand up, justify it to their ratepayers, budget for it and pay for it themselves. Kudos to the one lone Councillor who realized this early on, but who was clearly silenced, I mean outvoted by more “seasoned” politicians.
I would like to know who the politician was who did not want this company to pay for this.
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