DCTC received this opinion letter from Gold's Gym, Douglasville, Ga.

Last week Commission Chairman Tom Worthan fired the scare weapon during his presentation to the local AARP Chapter. (Sentinel, Sep 6^th). From the article, “If the SPLOST fails, property taxes will pay for the jail,”

He’s concerned about the SPLOST failing and he should be. The recent Sentinel straw poll showed the majority of respondents would vote NO to the SPLOST.

What he didn’t say is that if it weren’t for the pork barrel mess of projects in the SPLOST he wouldn’t have to resort to scare tactics. What he also didn’t say was that there is an alternative to property taxes: Reject this 2007 SPLOST and demand a better, more fiscally responsible, 2008 SPLOST proposal.

The Chairman then went on to defend the biggest pork project and millstone around the neck of the SPLOST, the YMCA. In closing comments to the AARP he made a not too subtle reference to “corporate sponsors to provide scholarships for low income people.”

What he didn’t say was that the cost of the YMCA would be $17,000,000 plus inevitable overruns, that it would cost $10,000,000 to replace Hunter Park which will be given to the YMCA, and that the $600,000/year losses paid by taxes for Boundary Waters will increase because of swimming pool competition from the Y. He also didn’t say that this proposed branch of the Atlanta YMCA will rely on at least $1,000,000 per year, typically at least 25% of its operating revenue, to be raised from local contributions in competition against United Way, Boys and Girls Club, and other local charities (ref: public reports in www.guidestar.org).

We therefore urge the voters of Douglas County to reject the current SPLOST proposal and send a message to local politicians: We will not accept pork barrel projects in Douglas County.

Gordon Johnson

Gold’s Gym, Douglasville