At the May 3rd meeting of the city council Paul Kaftanski made a proposal requesting the city spend $1.9 million to $6.4 million in taxpayers money to partner with the YMCA on a new swimming pool. In the same meeting he stated the Parks and Recreation Department was seeking $2.5 million for the renovation of Phil Johnson Fields
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To pay for the pool partnership the city is planning on using money from CIP3 a fund which generates $1.95 million dollars a year over the next 10 years or $19,500,000.
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To make matters worse Forest Park currently is subsidized by taxpayer money at $460,000 a year and an additional $200,000 was taken from CIP1 fund in 2015 and 2016 making the total $660,000 in both 2015/2016. If the City partners with the YMCA it will only increase these subsidies
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The city screams budget woes but in the next few years it could spend a possible $9,500,000. These proposals do not indicate a city with budget woes. If there are budget woes the city needs to prioritize its needs