In an article published by the Rifle Rec Center Committee it stated that a rise in sales tax revenue in the city of Fruita could be attributed to their rec center.

The next day in the Daily Sentinel there was an article that told about Fruita becoming a mecca for bicycle enthusiasts from all over the world and compared it to Moab. You don’t think this had anything to do with an increase in sales tax revenue do you? Also in the same paper there was an article on a 2013 survey done for Fruita on their Rec Center, and people said they liked the center but the fees were too high. Rifle’s projected fees are higher than Fruita’s.

Another statement the committee made was that we could use the penny tax for our parks to subsidize the rec center losses. I voted yes on this tax to keep our parks up, which are free to use. For instance, you can use the tennis courts for free and with the rec center you would pay for use. Also, having a birthday party at the present pool is inexpensive. In the new rec center it will cost $150/hour with a minimum of two hours use. It will cost a family of four $700/year for membership or $24 for daily use. It will cost a senior citizen $350/year for membership or $5 for daily use. These rates will rise if revenue projections are not met.

In the study done for Rifle it showed a deficit of $408,000 to $578,000 per year. Right now, Colorado’s Democratic Legislature passed a $1 billion new tax for schools to be voted on that would increase state income tax from a flat tax of 4.9 percent to 5 percent and 5.9 percent for higher wage earners.

The Ute Theatre is already projected to lose $30,000 to $60,000 dollars per year, and we might lose the prison facility, and tax receipts are down. In 2008, we had 1,400-plus drill rigs; today 400-plus.

I urge you to ask the committee for a fee schedule before you vote.

Gary Parks

Rifle