Why am I shaken my head? No, it isn't to get all those cobwebs out of it and it has nothing to do with the fact I like to hear the marbles rattling around, rather it is becasue I just can't understand how some people think.
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Anyone who reads this blog or my other one over there at It's Clear As Mud knows, I beleive in fiscal responsibility. I also beleive that the way to stop spending begins at the local level. That's most of my cards on the table. So I have a problem with spending, oh somewhere between 5 and 7 million dollars developing trails in order to make us a "Geotourism Destination."
I have nothing against trails or the people who design them, support them, use them, etc. etc. In the past even I have been know to spend some time in a bicycle seat myself bounding down mountain trails, crashing into trees, etc. But here is the rub (not unlike the one I get when I spend too much time in that same bicycle seat) no one at this meeting last night could give us any kind of return on our investment. In fact the consultant, Scott Slinnenburger (sp?) from a place called Kay-Linn Enterprises, pretty much stated that the revenue from the trails would not offset the increase in our tax rate.
Let me repeat that: The revenue generated from these trails would NOT offset the INCREASE in our tax rate. So, once again, our taxes would go up and we would get nothing back for it. Yes, it would bring tourists into town, but let me repeat, the increase in revenue would NOT off set the INCREASE in our tax rate.
Now, let me be clear, this has not been signed off on, this was an informational meeting and there will be another one coming up tentatively on July 2, but we really need to start thinking about this. My little tea party antenna were raised on several different and were certainly wiggling, and not just the money issues. there were several very scary terms thrown out there. Again, those who read my stuff know I am not a big conspiracy guy, but my Agenda 21 friends have sent me enough info on the "code" words, etc. to make even a guy like me sit up and take notice (which, returning to the bicycle seat thing can be painful).And then there was the talk about a non-profit, professionally staffed entity which would oversee this project which would not be accountable to any town authority.
When the handout we received last night is posted online I will provide a link but it seems there was a slight problem with the map they gave us. It seems that some of these trails went through private property. Another red flag wouldn't you say?
Call me Mr. Negative, but I have some serious concerns about this trails things, I will write more on it I am sure, but I will leave you with one last thought:
THE REVENUE FROM THIS PROJECT WILL NOT BE OFFEST BY THE INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
Remember, Socialism is great until you run out of other people's money.
ReplyDeleteSo the 5=7 million dollars is on top of the debt we have incurred for purchasing these lands correct? I dont see any ROI either, at least not for a long time. I think the idea is that the ROI will come eventually. I can see the concept and its pretty cool, but not in our current economic state. I will not be supporting and spending at all on the local level on the trails system. It is time to put the trails on the back burner. They never get any attention from residents. 1-2 cars is all i see at the trail heads unless there is work being done on them. The other time there is usage is during hunting season, i am all for that. However, i can see the town trying to make hunting illegal on the trails eventually. If the master plan comes to fruition and many people use the trails there will be a move to remove hunting. I know they would be in for a fight in the courts but in this state hunting does not have much support in the political arena.
ReplyDeleteYes, that money would be in addition to any debt we have, minus some they could use from the hotel/motel taxes and the betterment funds which come from businesses. And of course they use the "Free Money" argument when it comes to grands and state aid, which comes from taxpayers.
DeleteYes, it is a nice idea, but as we were told, the revenue from the trails would not offset the cost of tax increases.
As far as hunting, I am not sure they could control that, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't try it.
The 5 to 7 million dollars is what the project would cost if the town HIRED some one to build the trails. There is no plan whatsoever to do this. All this work will be done by volunteers whenever possible and most of the money for materials will come from grants. The trail committee has already received over $200,000 in volunteer hours and donated materials to build the trails we have.
DeleteRichard Paradise Sturbridge Trails Committee,
Recreational Trails Master Plan Committee
Richard, I appreciate your comment. Not to be Mister Negative but I have seen this before where something isn't going to cost us anything and ends up the opposite. I have nothing against trails, in fact I was one of the original Grand Trunk Rail Blazers, but there will be costs associated with this the town will need to pick up. As I wrote about regarding the CPA, there is always more.
DeleteWe need to stop the cycle of spending and separate our needs from the "nice to haves."